Austin FC Strategy Issues: 2 Main Problems

Brandon Vazquez, Los Verde’s true striker, tore his ACL earlier in the season and underwent season-ending surgery following the injury. Austin FC’s current front three of Wolff, Uzuni, and Bukari are not aerial targets by any stretch of the imagination, as none of them stand over 5ft 10in. Wolff is a converted midfielder; Bukari rarely gets into the box unless he takes on a defender himself; and Uzuni drops down in front of Austin FC’s three center backs to link up play and never makes it into the box in time.

A Different Approach

Austin FC Head Coach Nico Estévez, speaking with sideline reporter Andrew Wiebe before the 2nd half, stated Austin FC needs to put more pressure on LAFC’s three center backs with crosses into the box. Commentator Maurice Edu then replied, “With who? Where is the pressure going to come from?”, and I couldn’t agree more. Anyone watching the game could see it wasn’t going to work, except the coach, apparently.

It’s no shock to me that Austin FC’s only goal came from actually playing a pass to a midfielder and bringing up LAFC’s backline to get a second pass down into the box. Amazing, isn’t it? If you don’t have a true #9, then don’t play like you do! At least the players realized that for all of one sequence. Instead of passing backward time and time again, especially against a team featuring Son Heung-Min, a transition god, passes should run forward through the midfield. Bringing the defense in then allows the wide players to make runs down the side and the forward players to get in behind the defense.

It’s very easy to get caught out and allow the opposing team to get numbers in transition when you go past the midfield line, but continue to play passes back to your defenders and keeper. It’s also difficult to create chances when the defense knows exactly what you’re going to do. LAFC knew Austin FC’s wide players would try to make solo runs all game, and when spaces closed up, passes would go backwards. That allowed LA’s center backs to get into position for eventual crosses, clear them out without a sniff at goal, or intercept a pass and run in transition. It’s high time for a different approach.

End Of My Austin FC Rant

My biggest complaint with Austin FC has been and continues to be the amount of walking and hold-up play. Son’s speed and ability in transition torched Austin FC’s midfield and defense off backwards passes, and created ample opportunities for Bounaga and Co. Austin FC’s inability to put any fear into LA’s backline in the final third made it simple for the Black & Gold to thwart any forward momentum on the rare occasion there was any. Austin FC will need to find another strategy if they want to win Game 2 on Sunday, as crosses into the box and backwards passes proved, yet again, ineffective offensively.