Austin FC II will take the pitch under the lights at Parmer Field this Friday night with their postseason hopes on the line. The Verde & Black are set for a key matchup against Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 in which a win is necessary to climb back into the playoff positions. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. CT, and the match is also available to watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Austin FC II Outlook
ATXFC II may have suffered a narrow defeat to North Texas SC last Sunday night, but the Verde & Black have every reason to feel confident as they return to the comforts of Parmer Field. Austin has picked up 16 out of the last 18 possible points playing at home, including three consecutive regulation victories.
Though in 11th place, Austin finds itself only two points below the playoff line with two matches remaining. Vancouver are only five points above ATXFC II and still within reach as well. In addition to rooting for their own team, Verde & Black fans will be hoping Houston, Portland, and Kansas City drop points.
CJ Fodrey, the team’s top scorer this season, netted the only goal in this fixture last year, a 1-0 victory for ATXFC II.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 Outlook
Vancouver sits in seventh place in the MLSNP Western Conference. They haven’t yet clinched a playoff spot but could do so with a win in Austin on Friday night, adding an additional layer of motivation for the Canadian side.
Whitecaps FC 2 are in the middle of the pack when it comes to road points with 15 from 12 away matches. The team’s strong suit is its defense, which has allowed 1.5 goals per game thus far – seventh fewest in MLS NEXT Pro.
At the other end of the pitch, Nicolas Chateau is the team’s top scorer with nine goals, while Eliot Goldthorp has been a key contributor with seven goals and five assists.
