Austin FC could clinch postseason spot, solidify home playoff game chances with win Wednesday
Austin FC’s 4-1 home win over league-leading Los Angeles FC on Friday was the biggest result in club history, but the team had little time to enjoy it.
In the spirit of the 34-game MLS schedule where — outside of international breaks — games come at you fast, Austin returns to action tonight back at Q2 Stadium when it hosts the Portland Timbers as part of a three-games-in-eight-days stretch (the team plays at Nashville Saturday).
It’s another part of the schedule that’s a constant reminder in the MLS that a team can’t get too high or too low over one result.
“Friday’s win gives the team confidence and continues to reiterate who we are as someone who can compete against the best in the league,” Austin FC coach Josh Wolff said. “You like to enjoy wins, obviously, and I think our guys did. But whether it’s a short turnaround like it is or we had a whole week to enjoy it — you have to turn the page. Portland doesn’t care about what we did against LAFC. We’re glad it comes quickly and we want to keep moving forward.”
Like Austin FC, Portland is coming off a massive result, as it defeated rival Seattle 2-1 Friday and is now only one point out of a playoff spot.
More:Austin FC routs league-leading LAFC behind two goals from Maxi Urruti
The Timbers are part of a crowded field battling for the third through seventh playoff spots, with six teams within eight points of each other — and even four other clubs still having postseason hopes.
El Tree, for all intents and purposes, doesn’t have to worry about its postseason life sitting in second place in the Western Conference and seven points clear of third-place Minnesota United.
Austin FC can officially clinch a playoff spot with a win tonight, but its focus for the seven games it has left in the regular season will be securing a home playoff game and chasing LAFC (57 points) and Philadelphia (54) in the Supporters’ Shield race.
“There’s still plenty of games left and we can’t control what other teams do,” Wolff said. “We’ll do everything we can to keep climbing up the table and where we land is somewhat dependent on us, but there are other factors.”
Austin FC's fitness metrics near top of MLS
Austin FC ranks at the top or near the top of the MLS in some of the league’s fitness metrics in terms of the amount of running El Tree players do during games or force their opponents to do.
Over the past 10 weeks, in several games — especially Friday where some LAFC players looked completely gassed the last 30 minutes — it’s been obvious that Austin FC has had more energy in the second half and its players have made more intense runs than the opponent.
Wolff noted being well-conditioned in both stamina and speed has played a major role in the team’s success this season.
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“We set a clear goal last offseason of what we wanted to be this year, and with that comes offseason workouts,” Wolff said. “At the beginning of the year, we put a lot into the physical side of things to get us prepared. As the season goes on, it’s about maintaining fitness and staying in a space of where we’re fresh each week. We need to utilize our level of fitness during the game of play because it forces the opponent to deal with it.”
Daily training and regularly playing in the Texas heat and humidity also plays into something that the team has leveraged into its favor.
“The climate here in Austin can have an effect on teams, and we as a staff have a better understanding of that this season,” Wolff said. “It can be challenging on opponents, and we want to push that when we can. We have a physical output that’s just about able to match anybody in the league.”
Outside backs Nick Lima, Jon Gallagher continue to thrive
Right back Nick Lima and left back Jon Gallagher have quietly turned in stellar seasons for Austin FC, something that was punctuated by Lima shutting down LAFC winger Gareth Bale — one of the club’s splashy new additions — on Friday.
If the team makes a run at the Supporters’ Shield or has success in the playoffs, continued strong play from that duo will be key.
More:Ticket prices through the roof as Austin FC hosts league-best Los Angeles FC Friday
“Each week Nick and Jon are going against really good players, and their commitment to prepare and make it difficult for the opponents defensively has been impressive,” Wolff said. “Offensively, they’ve been calm and collective and have made good decisions in the opponents’ half. They have a willingness to move up the field and understand what the game needs. They’ve done a great job, and we’ll need that going forward.”
Midfielder Diego Fagúndez noted that while Lima and Gallagher don’t receive the publicity himself and some of the other offensive players do, they’re just as important to how Austin FC operates.
“People may not realize what kind of team we have,” Fagúndez said. “Everyone from the goalie to defenders to forwards has stepped up to get us where we’re at — and that’s the kind of team we need.”
Wednesday's match
Austin FC vs. Portland Timbers, 8 p.m., Q2 Stadium, KBVO, 97.5
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin FC hosts Portland Timbers in Western Conference matchup
