Depleted Austin FC should at least be rested as El Tree hosts struggling Colorado
After playing five times in 15 days, Austin FC received some much-needed rest this week.
It should head into Saturday night's home contest against the Colorado Rapids with fresh legs after six days off, but the issues surrounding its defense could be magnified.
Center back Leo Väisänen will miss the game as he’s with the Finnish national team for its Euro Cup qualifiers, meaning El Tree will be without both of the center backs it started in the season opener a month ago, with Julio Cascante still recovering from a groin injury.
“There will be challenges along the back line,” Austin FC coach Josh Wolff said in his weekly meeting with the media. “But I love this time of year when there’s a little adversity to see what happens to a group. It’s an opportunity to galvanize a group.”
Alex Ring has performed incredibly well in his move to center back — as has Väisänen, who appears to be a phenomenal offseason acquisition — but who will play alongside him will be the question for Wolff.
Backup center backs Amro Tarek and Kipp Keller are available, though both struggled in early season appearances, and Wolff hinted that they probably wouldn’t be used. Nick Lima, whose natural position is right back, is another option, though both he and Ring are shorter than 6 feet and would leave El Tree vulnerable to headers in the air.
But Austin FC can’t be picky, especially with starting midfielder Owen Wolff also missing the game while he is with the U.S under-20 national team for training and friendly matches in Spain.
However, if there’s a team El Tree could have chosen to play in this situation, it would be the Rapids. Colorado is 0-3-1, has scored only once and is arguably the worst team in the MLS.
But Austin FC is coming off to a 2-0 loss to Houston, which is also considered a poor side, and anything can happen in a single soccer game, though Josh Wolff noted that with 34 matches, the club doesn't overreact to one result.
“We’ve played four (MLS) games and won two — the world is not ending,” he said. “We won 16 games last year in a great season, but that’s less than half. That’s the reality of our league, but when we’re at home we want to score goals and win games.”
It’s an interesting situation for El Tree with its roster issues, but Wolff said the team having time to prepare for a game in which it knows it will be shorthanded is big.
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“It helps tremendously,” he said. “When you have a congested schedule, recovery is difficult and coaching and teaching is challenging. This week’s been good as we’ve been able to build on (defensive) things and build up. There’s always opportunities to improve, and we have to keep on getting better.”
Gallagher's versatility should help
Jon Gallagher has been one of Austin FC’s best players through the early part of the season, and he brings a versatility that is rare in the sport.
Gallagher could play anywhere on the field, and when El Tree finds itself in the depth predicament it is in now, he’s a luxury for the club to have, whether he’s playing at outside back or as an attacking player on the wing.
“I’m happy just to be out on the field,” said Gallagher, who noted that he would play center back if needed. “If I can give the coach different options, then I think I give myself better chances of playing. I told Josh I’ll play anywhere. I think I’ve played every position for the club.”
Wolff noted that he appreciates what Gallagher brings to the team.
“His contributions are consistent,” he said. “He’s contributed on a few goals, and that’s something he’s demonstrated over a couple years with us. He can play anywhere, and we’ve been pleased with what he’s been able to do.”
El Tree adds center back on loan
Austin FC added to its defense this week when it acquired center back Aleksandar Radovanović via a loan through June from first-division Belgian side KV Kortrijk.
Radovanović, 29, is a native of Serbia and spent the early part of his career in the Serbian SuperLiga before signing with French second-division side Lens in 2018. He joined Kortrijk in 2020 and has made 44 appearances for it the past three seasons, including 11 this year.
It may be a month before Radovanović joins the club as he has to get a work visa and get up to speed with the team’s style of play, but he’ll be a much-needed piece.
“We obviously knew we needed to add depth at center back,” Wolff said. “Alex and Leo have done a tremendous job on the back line, but we can’t take too many risks with them knowing they’re our only two real center backs at the moment. Aleksandar brings us depth, quality and experience from Europe. He’s got a good pedigree, but there will be an adaptation period.”
The transaction includes an option for the loan to become a permanent move.
Saturday's match
Colorado Rapids (0-3-1) at Austin FC (2-2), 7:30 p.m., Q2 Stadium, Apple TV, 97.5
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Depleted Austin FC hosts struggling Colorado Rapids with depth issues
