In its return to MLS action following the month-long Leagues Cup hiatus, Austin FC picked up one of its most significant results of the season with a 2-0 win on the road against Nashville SC.
Goals from wingers Jon Gallagher and Osman Bukari, coupled with a man-of-the-match performance from goalkeeper Brad Stuver, lifted the Verde and Black to just their third away win of the 2024 season and a crucial three points towards the club’s pursuit of a playoff berth.
It could have been a very different 90 minutes, though, if not for an early highlight reel moment from Stuver. Just 80 seconds into the match, Nashville’s Jacob Shaffelburg took a counter-attack into the ATX penalty box. Defender Brendan Hines-Ike attempted a sliding tackle that sent Shaffelburg to the ground, and after a lengthy VAR review, the host side was awarded a penalty.
Nashville star Hany Mukhtar drove the spot kick to Stuver’s right with pace, but the ATX goalkeeper dove the correct direction with strong hands to parry the ball onto the post and out.
STUUUUUUUUUUU 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/bLGGpyW3DL
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) August 25, 2024
Stuver would go on to make six more saves, including another full-stretch effort in the second half to deny a beautifully struck volley from Tah Anunga, to preserve Austin’s seventh clean sheet of the season.
The opening goal for Austin came in the 43rd minute when Alex Ring – now clearly reinstated as Austin FC’s captain going forward – delivered a perfect, line-breaking pass to Gallagher. The Irishman took a touch, then from a wide angle put his shot through the legs of Nashville keeper Joe Willis for the 1-0 lead.
The sides traded scoring chances throughout the second half, until a tremendous individual effort from Bukari doubled the Austin lead. The Ghanaian pounced on a lazy Nashville pass, knocking the ball loose and creating a footrace between himself and Willis for the ball.
“When I won the ball on the press, I said, ‘Okay, this ball, I have to finish it, because I’m faster than the goalkeeper, so I have to be there and finish it, because that’s what I can do,’” Bukari said. Sure enough, Bukari easily out-sprinted Willis, calmly guided the ball around the sliding keeper, then deposited a shot into the empty net for his first Austin FC goal and the game-clincher.
Our No. 7️⃣ @OsmanBukari9 applies the pressure and nets his first #AustinFC goal! 👏 pic.twitter.com/ENH13h2HKa
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) August 25, 2024
“I’m new to the team and like, they have their principles, and they have their style of play. So each and every game, I’m getting used to how [ATX head coach Josh Wolff] wants us to defend, how he wants us to attack. Sometimes it’s not easy to, as a winger, to adapt very quick, but I am getting used to it,” Bukari said. “I feel like I’m home now.”
After the match, Bukari was already dreaming of what it would feel like scoring his first goal at Q2 Stadium, which could come as soon as this Saturday against the Vancouver Whitecaps. It’s another virtual must-win for the club, which now has vaulted into ninth place in the Western Conference standings, the final playoff spot.
“We have eight games left. The next one is at home, so we don’t look too far ahead,” Wolff said. “The idea is to maximize as many of our opportunities as we can.”
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.
This article appears in August 23 • 2024.
