4 takeaways as Austin FC tops Houston Dynamo 3-1

[ad_1] The U.S. Open Cup brings out the objectives in Austin FC.

For the second straight match within the competitors, the Verde & Black had no hassle scoring as they defeated Houston 3-1 in a spherical of 16 contest Wednesday at Q2 Stadium.

Brandon Vazquez, Osman Bukari and Ilie Sánchez tallied objectives for Austin FC, which led 3-0 halfway via the second half and can discover out its quarterfinal opponent Thursday.

Listed below are some key takeaways from the match because the Verde & Black return to league play with a tricky highway match Saturday at Minnesota:

Austin FC excelled at what’s most vital Austin FC wasn’t at its greatest Wednesday, however whenever you rating objectives it doesn’t matter.

A number of contests this yr the Verde & Black have had a very good exhibiting and little to indicate for it, so karma might have evened out a bit for them.

“I feel we’ve performed higher earlier than … however the goal is to maneuver on to the subsequent spherical,” Austin FC coach Nico Estévez mentioned. “One of many issues we had been lacking (this season) was profitable the containers, and right now we gained the containers whereas they gained the run of play.”

Houston dominated possession with 68% and usually dictated the sport, but it couldn’t put pictures on track when it had possibilities and Austin FC goalie Brad Stuver didn’t need to make any notable saves.

In the meantime, the Verde & Black capitalized after they wanted to.

Vazquez’s aim of settling a tipped cross within the field, turning and firing at a pointy angle was a formidable show of talent and confirmed why the membership paid $10 million to pry him away from C.F. Monterrey within the offseason.

It’s debatable whether or not the penalty awarded to Austin FC that Bukari transformed ought to have been given, however the Verde & Black had been pushing the assault. And the Ghanaian nationwide staff participant was good in establishing Sanchez’s aim by beating a defender and discovering a teammate in the midst of the field.

If CJ Fodrey doesn’t miss a wide-open likelihood late within the second half, the scoreline is much more lopsided.

“We’ve had some nice moments the final two video games that translated tonight,” Stuver mentioned. “We now have to proceed that.”

The Verde & Black worth the U.S. Open Cup It’s apparent Austin FC has put an emphasis on giving the U.S. Open Cup its greatest effort.

Whereas Houston sat most of its higher gamers for the primary half earlier than bringing almost all of them on at varied factors within the second half, Estévez — like he did within the spherical of 32 towards El Paso — fielded a beginning lineup that didn’t increase any eyebrows. Heart again Brendan Hines-Ike was the one common who didn’t play within the match.

Practically all coaches say they take each competitors severely, however you’re extra inclined to imagine Estévez when he says “we’re formidable in each competitors and each sport” than chalk it as much as coachspeak.

Austin FC’s gamers additionally appear engaged within the competitors — “We need to compete for trophies,” Jon Gallagher mentioned — and now that the membership is within the quarterfinals, one can argue it ought to emphasize this competitors over the encompassing league video games that week in early July.

Man of the match: Osman Bukari Bukari was robust up the precise aspect for the second consecutive match together with his pace bothering the Houston protection. His help on Sanchez’s aim was the second-best play of the competition, trailing solely Vazquez’s aim. If Bukari continues this manner, it is going to fortify an Austin FC offense that has struggled this season in MLS play.