Previewing Houston Dynamo vs Austin FC with Verde All Day
(image via Austin FC)
The Houston Dynamo will host another in-state rival at Shell Energy Stadium tomorrow. We talked to our friend Phil West from Verde All Day to get some insight on Austin FC ahead of Saturday’s match.
Bayou City Soccer (BCS): There were a lot of eyebrows raised when Nico Estevez was hired as Austin FC's head coach but the team is off to a strong start. What has made Estevez and Austin such a good fit, so far?
Verde All Day (VAD): Part of it, to be honest, is that Estévez and sporting director Rodolfo Borrell both hail from Spain and I think that helps them understand each other — and the majority of the assistant coaching team, save for former Dynamo legend Davy Arnaud (the lone holdover from former Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff's staff), are also Spanish. I also think part of it is that Estévez has one foot in the Berhalter coaching tree, so he draws from a style that established Austin players know, and yet he's got experience initially honed in Valencia, so he offers fresh elements and a "freedom" (as weary Wolff era players depict it) that everyone's liking.
At first, Borrell set up weird expectations for the hire by saying there were "names you wouldn't believe" and then bringing in a recently-fired MLS/Berhalter School coach — in other words, a name you could actually believe by MLS standards — but he's been on a charm offensive with fans and media, and he's inspired a defense that's recorded five clean sheets and has only given up three goals in eight games. (Wait, Austin FC's given up eight goals and played nine games? I have no idea what you're talking about.)
BCS: Austin went out and spent big on their attack in the offseason. How is it going so far, most notably with Brandon Vazquez and Myrto Uzuni?
VAD: It's been, well, a slow start. Vázquez got the lone goal last week in a 1-0 home victory over the Galaxy (but who can't beat the Galaxy this year, amirite), but that came amassing 2.1 xG including a muffed PK and a wrong-side-of-the-post header from close range. In that match, Uzuni hit a bicycle kick that just went over the bar and had a couple of other great chances rejected. That match was emblematic of their Sisyphean seasons so far. The three attacking designated players (including Osman Bukari) have combined for 9 xG per FBref and just four goals on the season. What's worse: Vázquez with 4.7 xG and two goals or Uzuni with 2.7 xG and one goal.
Weird stat: Austin's on pace for 60 points and 26 goals this season.
BCS: Austin's defense has played well this season, too, allowing just 8 goals against in their 9 games. What has made them so good and how big of a loss will Brendan Hines-Ike be after his red card last week?
VAD: You mean three goals in eight matches and an aberration. They lock down in the defensive third; they're among the league leaders in clearances and defensive third tackles. Also, if it gets to the point when they need a save, Brad Stuver's there. Even in the Vancouver match, he kept out several shots in a match that could have been 8-1 or 9-1. I predict he'll get a Lifetime Achievement All-Star nod this season, and could earn it based on what he's doing this season alone (though it's not his most statistically impressive season up to date.
Hines-Ike, another potential hometown All-Star selection, has been stellar since coming in late to camp in February 2024 (it was a long-running Josh Wolff bit) after being cut from D.C. United after the 2023 season. He'll be missed, especially since Verde also found a new home for Leo Väisänen recently and have exactly two healthy eligible actual center backs for this match (though I imagine they'll bring up a Next Pro player in case they need a sub). Oleksandr Svatok, who I think is a solid defensive center back but he's the source of debate among some fans, will partner with Julio Cascante, who is more offensive minded. American Soccer Analysis's goals added aggregate stat LOVES Julio Cascante. The eye test doesn't, as the Vancouver match showed. Should be an adventure!
BCS: We've seen this Texas rivalry for a few years now. How do Austin fans view the rivalry with Dallas and Houston at this point?
VAD: While Jesus Ferreira has certainly done some things to help the rivalry with Dallas along, I feel it's fairly close to equal right now. Even though Austin doesn't have the years in MLS than Dallas or Houston do, I feel like there's some good healthy hate among the three teams.
BCS: Who are some other players on this Austin team that may be a little under the radar that we should keep an eye on this weekend?
VAD: I keep telling everyone that Owen Wolff is making The Leap this year. He can play a lot of different spots on the field, and he's been a nominal 10 at points this season, but he's best as an 8. He's leading the team in assists — three of its five total assists — but they're all on set pieces. Also, Guilherme Biro is a fun, adventurous left back who occasionally takes shots from distance and does his share of trash talking.
BCS: Are there any notable injuries for Austin and what do you expect the lineup to look like Saturday night?
The only real big injury is right back Mikkel Desler, still a couple of weeks from a return with a decently bad hamstring injury. Assuming that Austin stays with a 4-3-3 after some frustrations with a 4-4-2, and assuming that Ilie Sánchez still won't see a full 90 even though he's mostly over an injury, I'd expect this (and remember, soccer does the weird right-to-left thing): Stuver; Gallagher, Cascante, Svatok, Biro; Šabović, Pereira, Wolff; Bukari, Vázquez, Uzuni.
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We want to thank Phil for his time and wish our friends in Austin the best of luck tomorrow.
