Austin FC returns home to Q2 Stadium on Saturday after three consecutive away matches for its final game before the inaugural Leagues Cup brings about a month-long break in MLS action. The Verde & Black will host Sporting Kansas City, with kickoff set for 8:30 p.m. CT.
Tune-In
Fans can watch the match for free in English or Spanish in over 100 countries on Apple TV - no subscription required.
- Stream: Click here to watch the match, or access it through any device compatible with the Apple TV app.
- Radio: The match will be broadcast live locally in English on iHeart Radio’s Alt 97.5, and in Spanish on Univision’s TUDN Radio Austin (104.3-HD2, KLQB-FM).
Austin FC Outlook
Austin may have fallen in a tight contest against Vancouver on Wednesday night, but the team’s overall recent form offers plenty of cause for optimism. Head Coach Josh Wolff’s side has picked up 10 points from its last five matches, including four from a tricky stretch of back-to-back-to-back away games. The team also has not been shut out in any of its last 11 matches, with Rodney Redes netting his second goal of the season across all competitions in the defeat to the Whitecaps.
Home turf has been good to Austin as of late. ATXFC won each of its last two matches at Q2 Stadium 3-0, and will look to build on that momentum this Saturday, as well as exact a measure of revenge for a 4-1 defeat suffered to SKC at Children’s Mercy Park last month. Sebastián Driussi tallied Austin’s lone goal that day, and has scored in all four of his career matches against Kansas City.
Victory for the Verde & Black this weekend would take the team past the 30-point mark, and could see them sit as high as 5th in the Western Conference table heading into the Leagues Cup break. On the other side of that break, Austin will have 11 remaining MLS matches to close out the regular season slate and secure a playoff spot for the second consecutive season.
Sporting KC Outlook
It’s been a roller coaster of a year for Sporting KC. After picking up just three points from their opening 10 games, the team went on a tear in May and early June, grabbing 17 of a possible 24 points on offer. Since the aforementioned victory over Austin on June 10 though, SKC has won once in its last six matches.
Alan Pulido might be MLS’ most in-form striker at the moment, netting nine goals in his last eight games for Sporting. A key area of focus for the Verde & Black on Saturday will be finding a way to keep the former Mexican international quiet.
While Kansas City recorded only one win in its last 18 MLS away matches, the team’s been quite good at avoiding defeat. It drew each of its previous three away matches, has lost once its last six away matches, and has nine total draws in that 18-match span. Austin will hope this fixture’s recent history holds true to form though, as the Verde & Black have won both previous meetings between the sides at Q2 Stadium.
Possible Sporting KC Lineup
(4-3-3, R-L) - GK: Kendall McIntosh; Jacob Davis, Daniel Rosero, Andreu Fontas, Tim Leibold; Erik Thommy, Remi Walter, Gadi Kinda; Johnny Russell, Alan Pulido, Daniel Salloi
