Austin FC has a long road to making the playoffs, being in 14th place to start September. But the team could be in much better position by the end of the month. Here's how.
After hearing Davy Arnaud discuss his formula for Austin FC getting into the playoffs, we broke out the crystal ball to see how the math worked out. We arrived at distinctly different pathways.
We're down to eight teams, who will kick off their playoff series a full month after the playoffs commenced. (We should probably do something about this format.)
After neutralizing Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga in the first 2025 playoff matchup between the teams, Verde couldn't do the same in this one.
Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez says his team is ready to play aggressively as they aim to extend their season at least one more match. But he also makes a case they were aggressive in a loss in which they only had two shots on target.
Which playoff matchups will advance to a third and deciding game? And why does one of them involve Will Bruin?
Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez indicated this is a team that can learn from losing. They'll have a few days to do that prior to what could be their final match of the season.
Austin FC went down early, brought the match back level in the second half, and then ultimately lost the playoff series opener.
You know LAFC. But you don't really know this version of LAFC. Let's address that with someone who knows the team well.
Austin FC has faced LAFC twice this season, but not the LAFC with Son Heung-min on it. Head coach Nico Estévez gave some indication as to how his team will try to contain him.
Get ready for matches starting a week from Wednesday. Also, Austin's guaranteed a Sunday evening home match for its postseason appearance.
Verde finished the season with 37 goals and a -8 goal differential. But they got wins when they needed them — including a key win over San Jose preceding this rematch loss.
