Brandon Vázquez celebrates his first goal for Austin FC in a 2-1 win over San Diego FC. Credit: credit: Austin FC

For the first time in the 2025 season, Austin FC scored multiple goals in a game, en route to a 2-1 win over previously unbeaten expansion side San Diego FC on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Q2 Stadium.

Austin’s $10 million man Brandon Vázquez finally notched his first goal as an Austin FC player. Jon Gallagher continued his stellar play with what proved to be the winning goal. Ultimately, the Verde and Black saw out the narrow victory, which really should not have been as close as it was. Here are our takeaways from the match.

Counter-Attack Success

Despite only possessing the ball for just 31% of the match, Austin FC enjoyed its best attacking soccer of the season, creating by far the most quality scoring chances of any match so far. The hosts were more than happy to let San Diego have the ball in non-threatening areas, hold a firm defensive shape, then pounce on the counter-attack at the first sight of a misplayed pass. The result was a flurry of ATX breakaway opportunities, leading several high-quality scoring chances, including both goals.

Brandon Vázquez benefitted from a heads-up play by strike partner Diego Rubio in the 10th minute to open the scoring. Rubio collected a loose ball dislodged by Besard Sabovic in midfield, then immediately turned to play a surgical through ball to Vázquez in space behind the San Diego defense. Vázquez handled the easier part of the equation, dribbling around goalkeeper CJ dos Santos and slotting the ball into the back of the net.

“It was exciting. Having my first goal for this club is special,” Vázquez said.

Ten minutes later, Gallagher doubled Austin’s lead on a similar breakaway. This time, it was thanks to a heads-up play by Owen Wolff, quickly taking a free kick before San Diego’s defense could reset and springing Gallagher free for a 1-on-1 opportunity with the keeper. The Irishman made no mistake, and Wolff logged his third assist of the season.

“We made eye contact real quick, and I just took off. And I think [Wolff] knew,” Gallagher said. “It was perfect.”

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Austin’s attackers over the final 70 minutes of the match. The Verde and Black created – and wasted – numerous A+ opportunities to extend the lead further and post a big number on the scoreboard. Osman Bukari, Rubio, and even the goalscorer Vázquez squandered at least a half-dozen breakaway opportunities between them by either shooting when a pass would’ve likely led to a tap-in, or simply missing clear-cut shots.

Had Austin failed to win the match, execution in those critical moments would have been the culprit. But as Alfred Tennyson once said, “’Tis better to have created chances and missed than never to have created chances at all.”

Managerial Masterclass

As mentioned, Austin came out with a concerted mindset to let San Diego have the ball, then attack their high line on the counter-attack. Credit head coach Nico Estévez for the bold game plan that worked mostly to perfection.

“I wanted to try something different,” Estévez acknowledged. “The game plan was, when we don’t have the ball, force the opponent to play inside [where] we have numbers to win it, and then from there, transition, create counter-attacks to create goal-scoring opportunities.”

Estévez also tinkered with Austin’s starting lineup, playing four central midfielders while keeping wingers Bukari and Jáder Obrian on the bench. This allowed the club to largely repel San Diego’s forays through the middle channels, and force turnovers that led to chances in the other direction. “We won the balls where we wanted to win them,” Estévez said.

Undermanned Defense Holds

With two center backs away on international duty and a third, Julio Cascante, still working his way back from a hamstring injury, Austin FC needed someone to step up beside Brendon Hines-Ike in the center of defense to keep the club’s strong defensive record intact.

Usual starting left back Guilherme Biro did so with aplomb. The Brazilian led Austin FC with 13 defensive actions, according to FOTMOB, including seven clearances, three interceptions, and a blocked shot.

“He had a hell of a game,” Estévez said of Biro.

In the 76th minute, Cascante was able to make his return for an abbreviated stint, allowing Biro to return to his natural home on the left side. And Austin, despite conceding a first-half strike to U.S. international Luca de la Torre, continued its streak of allowing no more than one goal in any match this season.

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

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This article appears in March 21 • 2025.

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Eric Goodman has covered Austin FC for the Austin Chronicle since before the club first kicked a ball in 2021. His column, The Verde Report, continues the Chronicle's decades-long tradition of soccer-focused commentary, serving as a spiritual successor to Nick Barbaro's Soccer Watch column. Eric has also covered multiple Olympic Games and FIFA World Cups as a freelance sports journalist, and is a two-time Emmy-winning producer.