Well, folks, we have another I-35 derby on our hands. A Copa Tejas on steroids, if you will.
The last two matches between the two teams resulted in a tie with late goals coming from Austin FC. With playoff succession pressure on the line, how will this game differ from the others, and who will take the lead?
Austin FC is coming off a near exit against Real Salt Lake. Surely the last-minute scraping by against the lowest-ranked team in the playoffs, who were also playing down a man for a considerable stretch of the match, should be a wake-up call.
The RSL game was a painful reminder of what happens when the entire team isn’t switched on from the first whistle. Defense starts in the offense. Therefore, it is the entire team’s responsibility to defend. The first goal came from a relaxed offense and midfield. Andrew Brody had time on the ball to dribble in and get a cross off, which incidentally found the head of Sergio Cordova. As a result, the back line was caught off guard, and Brad Stuver was found hopeless.
Black y Verde have a challenge on their hands with USMNT forwards Paul Arriola and Jesus Ferreira leading the way for FC Dallas. However, Austin is a team that tends to play up. You can expect Austin to come into this match with the utmost tenacity. There were 11 fouls on both sides in the last matchup and defensive blunders for both teams.
The good news: simple errors typically have simple fixes. If Austin can mop up the simple errors committed in the previous games, they will be a different force to reckon with for FC Dallas.
An additional takeaway from the Real Salt Lake match includes the understanding that just because the dominating team can hammer the opposing team with crosses doesn’t mean it is necessary. Often, goals come from individuals who recognize when a particular tactic or strategy isn’t working. Austin’s key subs, like Moussa Djitte and Felipe Martins, have proven to be instrumental for them in the past because they have identified when they need to mix things up.
The solution: the Austin FC defense could have dropped and created more holes and spaces in the field. If Real Salt Lake is down a man, they will, naturally, stay compact unless you force them to spread the field. On the transition back in, Austin FC must do it with speed. Otherwise, it’s predictable.
Lesson learned: Don’t be predictable.
Against a team like FC Dallas, they will most likely not have the luxury of having so much momentum it’s predictable, yet it still works to their advantage, and the same lesson still applies.
Offense is Austin's FC greatest strength, and the way to win is by optimizing your greatest strength. Austin FC is most optimal when they are creative and don’t stagnate in the attack. While patience and possession are vital to their playing style, they will need to get creative against the FC Dallas defense. The way to score against FC Dallas is with quick transitions, opening up seams in their back line, and chipping over the back line for Urruti or Driussi to run onto.
Over everything, mentality is key. Everyone in the league knows that Real Salt Lake is notorious in a playoff setting and the true dark horse. They’re not a walk-in-the-park team when it comes to playoffs. This game gave Austin a taste of what to expect in the remaining games.
So far this season, Austin FC has recorded 11 ties or losses after a win. They barely won against Real Salt Lake, and had this been in the regular season, it would have been considered a tie. They have won four games following a tie this season.
The drama is already stirring amongst supporter groups, and bragging rights aren’t the only thing on the line. The odds are favorable for Austin to show up to Q2 in prime form.