Not much has gone according to plan for Austin FC on the pitch during its first five years in business.
Even the good stuff has largely come out of left field. Brad Stuver, before becoming just the second goalkeeper in league history to eclipse 600 saves in five seasons, started his ATX career as the presumed backup making less money than fellow GK Andrew Tarbell. Jon Gallagher was an attacking depth piece before injuries called him into starting fullback duty, leading to an all-star season. And though the club certainly expected Sebastián Driussi to star in attack, 25 goals in 2022 was beyond anyone’s wildest predictions.
This year, the plan was clear. Invest heavily in the club’s attacking front-three – to the tune of nearly $30 million in transfer fees divided between designated players Myrto Uzuni, Brandon Vazquez, and Osman Bukari – and score goals by the dozens. Naturally, it hasn’t been that simple.
Through half the season, Vazquez was the most in-form of the three, scoring five goals in 19 MLS contests – though still leading all of MLS in expected goals not converted into actual goals. Then the club lost their 26-year-old striker to a torn ACL, and the spotlight shifted squarely to an inconsistent Bukari and an ice-cold Uzuni.
Early returns weren’t great, as ATX was shut out at home against the New England Revolution in the club’s first match following Vazquez’s injury. But then its remaining DPs began to show some life.
First, it was Uzuni scoring the opening goal of a 2-1 win on the road against the LA Galaxy, and assisting on the second. Then, Uzuni and Bukari both scored as part of a 4-2 attacking outburst the following week against D.C. United. In the following two draws against Dallas and Houston, Bukari logged assists. And in the club’s 3-2 loss against CF Montreal, Uzuni still managed a goal and an assist.
Then, in a pivotal matchup against the San Jose Earthquakes at Q2 Stadium over the weekend, with as much playoff significance as you can have, both of Austin’s DPs were at their best. Bukari scored a superb opener before finding Uzuni with a cross for the second goal, then Bukari also played the ball that Quakes defender Bruno Wilson bungled into the net for an own goal in what resulted in a massive 3-1 Verde victory.
“It’s huge,” ATX head coach Nico Estévez said of the production his club has gotten from its top players lately. “When you come to this league, and you learn about this league, if your DPs don’t produce, you can have tough times.”
The Spanish coach acknowledged the work that both Bukari and Uzuni have put in to become consistent performers for the club.
“We had a slow start from our DPs [in terms of] contribution. Not on work rate, not on effort,” Estévez said. “[They were still] being good teammates and training hard and playing hard. But now we are getting the reward of all that work, and they’re helping, not [just] today, [but] every game.”
As Bukari and Uzuni find their top form, while 20-year-old Owen Wolff continues to realize how talented he really is, Austin FC all of a sudden gives opponents something to really think about up front.
They will be crucial as the club attempts to tighten its grip on a playoff spot with seven games left in the MLS regular season, beginning with a trip to Kansas City to take on Sporting KC on Sunday.
This article appears in The 35th Annual Austin Chronicle Hot Sauce Festival.
