Austin FC are farther down the line in MLS’ Western Conference mix (7th) but still in the hunt for a place in the playoffs only four points away from fourth. The last time these two teams met was in MLS league play, with the Loons picking up a simple 3-0 win on the road deep in the heart of Texas.
“We have the chance to have one of those special nights at home – and a chance to book a home Final here in Minnesota,” said Julian Gressel, who coach Eric Ramsay calls a “serial winner”, and who won an Open Cup on home turf as part of the Atlanta United side in 2019. Captain Michael Boxall is expecting a tough test from the visitors: “Austin are always very organized and defend well, so we’ll have to be clinical with our set-pieces, and make the most of our chances when we’re on the ball and can break.”
Like Minnesota, Austin FC is chasing its first-ever piece of silverware since the club’s founding in 2021. They may lack trophy-winning pedigree writ large, but they have a bona fide Open Cup hero in the heart of their midfield. “It’s been a journey for us as a club, and you’ll have to ask me in a few weeks if it’s a success or not,” said Ilie Sanchez, the Barcelona-born creator who lifted the Open Cup last year with LAFC and in 2017, in his first year in MLS, with Sporting Kansas City.
“This is the biggest challenge of our season,” Ilie added. “But also our biggest opportunity.”
Austin’s run in this Open Cup, culminating in their first-ever appearance in the Final Four, was not plain sailing. Nico Estevez’s side needed to come back from a two-goal deficit against Division II El Paso Locomotive, pull off a 3-1 win over two-time Open Cup Champions Houston Dynamo and a Quarterfinal in San Jose that needed a shootout and saw striker Brandon Vazquez go down to a season-ending injury.
“Minesota are never easy – they have their identity and are very hard to break down and can hurt you in transition and set pieces,” said Brad Stuver, the veteran Austin goalkeeper whose heroics in San Jose led the way to the Semifinals. “I’ve been a part of a lot of firsts with this club and I would love to be a part of a first trophy lift too.”
“This is a Semifinal, so it’s a go-to game,” added Stuver. “We’re gonna roll out with our best eleven and do everything we need to do to get the job done.”
Fontela is editor-in-chief ofusopencup.com. Follow him at@jonahfontela on X/Twitter.
