There’s an episode of the show Lost – season four, episode five, to be exact – that is widely regarded as perhaps the greatest single hour of scripted television in American history. In it, the character Desmond risks dying of a brain aneurysm unless he can focus his mind on something, or someone, that exists both in a distant memory as well as in the present. A “constant.”
Now, if Desmond were an Austin FC fan instead of a Glasgow Celtic supporter, there’s no doubt who his “constant” would be: goalkeeper Brad Stuver.
From the inaugural match over five years ago to today, Stuver has been Austin FC’s anchor. He’s the club’s all-time leader in appearances, and has saved its Verde and Black ass on more occasions than we can count.
But with respect to the Ohio native’s prior goalkeeping heroics, they all were topped Tuesday night at PayPal Park. In leading Austin FC to a quarterfinal win over the San Jose Earthquakes in the U.S. Open Cup, Stuver produced his finest performance yet.
The ATX No. 1 denied San Jose on nine occasions throughout 120 minutes of soccer dominated mainly by the home side. Stuver made diving saves, sliding saves, out-of-position saves, and double-saves. It was a shot-stopping master class reminiscent of Tim Howard’s legendary performance at the 2014 World Cup against Belgium. But unlike Howard, Stuver got the opportunity to finish the job in a penalty shootout with the match tied 2-2 after extra time.
Stuver rejected Chicho Arango’s opening spot kick to give Austin an immediate advantage, then did the same to DeJuan Jones two PK’s later. Austin, meanwhile, buried all four of its attempts to win the shootout 4-2 and clinch a spot in the Open Cup semifinals.
“He had an amazing performance,” ATX head coach Nico Estévez said of his goalkeeper. “This is why I chose him for the MLS All-Star [game].”
Unfortunately, the club’s other All-Star, striker Brandon Vazquez, suffered what appeared to be a devastating injury to his right knee about 70 minutes into the match. The Verde No. 9 was carried off the pitch on a stretcher with both hands covering his eyes in pain. Estévez did not immediately know the severity of the injury, but a team photo taken in the locker room after the match showed Vazquez standing with the help of crutches, though he appeared to be in good spirits, smiling with his teammates following the win.
Just five minutes prior, Vazquez drew and converted a penalty kick that pulled Austin equal at 1-1, a scoreline that held until the end of the 90 minutes, forcing extra time. The Verde and Black went down again in the 99th minute, then drew another penalty – this one by way of Owen Wolff – in the 115th. With Vazquez out injured, embattled designated player Myrto Uzuni took the ball and, in the high-pressure situation, calmly scored to tie up the score at 2-2.
It was just Uzuni’s third goal in all competitions for Austin FC, but it came at exactly the right time to give the Albanian international some confidence back. Austin will need Uzuni to be the goalscorer he’s been in Spain in recent seasons if the club is going to survive an extended Vazquez absence.
Now in the semifinals, the Open Cup represents the closest Austin FC has been to winning a trophy since it got eliminated in the Western Conference Final of the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2022. The Verde and Black will take on Minnesota United for a spot in the cup final at Allianz Field on either September 16 or 17. 
This article appears in July 11 • 2025.