Austin FC’s Alternates Outclassed By Mexican Giants Tigres in Exhibition Match

The defending champions of North American soccer, Mexican club Tigres UANL, taught Austin FC a lesson or three in finishing off scoring chances in a Tuesday night exhibition match at Q2 Stadium.

The Oaks dropped their first-ever international “friendly” match, 3-1, amid a festive atmosphere in which several Austin FC non-regulars got a rare chance to play extended minutes.

Despite a tremendous strike from outside the box by slumping forward Rodney Redes for Austin FC’s only goal, the gulf in class between the first-year MLS club and the seven-time champions of Mexico’s Liga MX was clear on display, especially in the attacking third.

For the opening goal, Tigres scored directly from a corner kick, something Austin FC has not managed to do through 13 MLS games. Mexican national team center back Diego Reyes headed home the set piece after a teammate flicked the ball to the back post.

Redes struck to equalize in the 63rd minute. Arguably nobody on the Austin FC roster needed a goal – and the confidence boost that comes with one – more than 21-year-old Redes, the first player the club ever signed.

Seven minutes later, though, Tigres wrestled the lead back via midfielder Nico López with a clever redirection in front of goal. And just under three minutes after that, López struck again with a spectacular left-footed shot from a tight angle into the far top corner of Austin FC’s goal. Each of the Tigres goals offered a glimpse of the kind of clinical goalscoring ability ATXFC currently lacks on its expansion roster.

“You can see the quality they have in and around goal,” Austin head coach Josh Wolff said. “That’s what you talk about with MLS [in comparison to] Liga MX. You can see a real quality player-for-player in Mexico, and we’re certainly closing that gap, but we still do have a little ways to go.”

As was expected given the club’s recent rash of injuries and crowded MLS schedule, Wolff went with a “B team” for his starting lineup, calling on seven alternates including goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell, who made his first non-preseason appearance for the club. Among the others getting a rare opportunity to start were defender Aedan Stanley, midfielder/forward Manny Perez, and midfielder Sebastian Berhalter.

The biggest and most intriguing surprises, though, were a pair of players who came on as substitutes and who are not officially on Austin FC’s senior roster. Owen Wolff, the coach’s 16-year-old son, played the entire second half in central midfield and looked far from out of place. He sprung Redes into space on the goal, logging an assist in his first appearance with the club. With Austin FC lacking an academy team above the U-15 level, Wolff the younger has been training with the senior roster. On the sidelines Tuesday and with press afterward, Wolff the elder was all business.

“Happy for him, obviously, as a father, but once he gets on the field, there’s things he needs to be aware of and understand how he’s helping his teammates,” he said. “There’s lots of things there, and we’ll go home and take a look at it, there’s no doubt about it. But I hope he enjoyed it.”

In the dying minutes, Austin FC brought on 23-year-old forward McKinze Gaines, who is on trial with the club. Gaines is a native of Austin and graduate of Lonestar Soccer Club who moved to Germany in 2016 to train with Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg’s academy. He last played for Hannover 96’s reserve team in the German fourth division. The club will continue to evaluate him before making a decision on whether to offer the local product a senior team contract.

Austin FC returns to MLS action Thursday, July 22, against unbeaten league-leaders Seattle Sounders at Q2 Stadium.

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For more Austin FC news and analysis, visit the Austin Chronicle's Austin FC hub. Follow The Verde Report columnist Eric Goodman on Twitter: @goodman.