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Austin FC Brace for Last-Place Earthquakes Amid Hot Streak
Riding the Energy
Austin FC is having some fantastic luck and hoping to keep up with their great structure when they face the striving San Jose Quakes on Saturday night. With a strong record of 4-1-1 in their last six MLS matches, Austin FC looks to get a second triumph over San Jose this season, following a completely exhilarating 4-3 home win on April 6.
Stellar Performances and Key Players
Austin FC (6-4-4, 22 points) is currently tied for the third-most points in the Western Conference with the Los Angeles Galaxy. A significant factor in their success has been the standout performances of goalkeeper Brad Stuver. Stuver has recorded five shutouts this season, with four coming in the last six matches. Since joining Austin FC before the club’s inaugural season, Stuver has accumulated 24 clean sheets in nearly 3.5 seasons.
“Over the last 3.5 seasons, I’ve put a lot of emphasis on staying consistent,” Stuver said. “I’ve done a good job at playing at a high level, but there’s still a lot of season to go.”
In their recent 3-2 victory over Sporting Kansas City, Austin showcased their offensive prowess. Jader Obrian scored twice, and Sebastian Driussi added another. Driussi, who leads the team with five goals, was pivotal in the earlier win against San Jose, netting two goals, including the decisive tally in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time.
Facing the Earthquakes
Despite the Earthquakes’ position at the bottom of the Western Conference (3-10-1, 10 points), Austin coach Josh Wolff remains cautious. He emphasized the need to capitalize on opportunities and avoid complacency, recalling the challenges faced during their previous encounter.
“We had a lot of opportunities that we weren’t able to capitalize on,” Wolff said. “We gave up two goals in transition. … It was adversity. We were down 2-0. Now we’re going away to a place that’s very difficult.”
Historically, Austin has struggled against San Jose, with the Earthquakes leading the series 2-1-5. However, San Jose has lost two consecutive MLS matches after a brief 2-0-1 stretch. Last weekend, they fell 1-0 to Orlando City, conceding a goal in the 89th minute.
San Jose’s Struggles
San Jose’s standout player Cristian Espinoza reflected on the narrow loss, attributing it to missed opportunities rather than luck. “They score on the last chance that they had, and we don’t. That’s the only thing that made the difference,” Espinoza said.
Amahl Pellegrino leads the Earthquakes with four goals. San Jose’s woes were compounded by their elimination from the U.S. Open Cup, losing 4-3 in extra time to Sacramento Republic FC on Tuesday.
Looking Ahead
As Austin FC gets ready to broaden their hot streak, they stay careful about the difficulties presented by the Quakes. Austin expects to get one more essential win as they continued looking for season finisher achievement, while San Jose hopes to turn their season around. The coordinate vows to be an interesting experience with the two groups anxious to demonstrate their determination.
