'We needed someone like him': Austin FC already thankful for Christian Ramirez, one win in
Christian Ramírez made the difference for Austin FC on Sunday. It's amazing that, on Thursday evening, he was on a plane en route to meeting his new team.
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Christian Ramírez made the difference for Austin FC on Sunday. It's amazing that, on Thursday evening, he was on a plane en route to meeting his new team.
Austin FC players felt they were the better team on Saturday night against Minnesota. An unlucky injury led to the 90th-minute goal that turned three points into one.
Austin FC showed some flashes of the team they might be in 2026. But according to their head coach and veteran goalkeeper, there's more work to do before Saturday's opening match.
Nico Estévez provided some welcome news about the lineup ahead of Wednesday's match. He also admitted that there's much work to do between now and the season opener on Feb. 21
Is Jorge Alastuey first-team material? Is Joseph Rosales a winger? Is Facundo Torres a 10? These are three questions that Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez seeks to answer in the next 20 days.
It's not that Austin FC didn't show a desire to win on Sunday. It's just that they left themselves vulnerable to counterattacks against a team that excels at them.
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.
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.
Austin FC beat an LAFC side missing its two best players. Ironically, that win makes a first-round playoff rematch between the rivals more likely.
Saturday's loss to St. Louis City SC completed the team's first three-match losing streak since May. Verde can still make the playoffs today, but may not avoid the play-in game.
With three dramatic 2-1 wins in their most recent four matches, the September version of Austin FC is more fun than the version that dropped points earlier in the season.
CJ Fodrey was the hero on Wednesday night, in part because of Nico Estévez's belief in him. Also, we saw Estévez as perhaps the happiest he's been since coming to Austin.