Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff challenged his crew to struggle towards “adversity” once they host derby rivals Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
Austin are tenth within the Western Convention, and are 10 factors behind the playoff spots, with the Dynamo at present sitting in seventh place.
They’ve received simply considered one of their final seven MLS outings (a 2-0 win over Nashville SC), and are winless in three, although they did draw 1-1 with Los Angeles FC final day out.
When requested if he was nonetheless focusing on the playoffs, Wolff insisted that his crew would struggle to the final recreation.
“Extra adversity, convey it on,” he mentioned. “It’s what we’ve to cope with.
“These guys compete, they don’t have anything however confidence in what we’re doing. We should always have extra factors based mostly on among the performances, however we hold trying ahead and powering on.
“We’d like an enormous, huge push at house and an enormous efficiency, but it surely’s definitely attainable.”
.@realsaltlake made their transfer to 2nd within the West. pic.twitter.com/uRn5jQ6Zor
— Main League Soccer (@MLS) September 19, 2024
In the meantime, Houston are unbeaten in every of their final 4 outings, successful two and drawing two, however had been unable to carry onto their lead in a 1-1 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps in midweek.
They’ll make historical past on Saturday although – a win would set a brand new file for highway victories in a single season, and it could be their first-ever triumph at Q2 Stadium, having misplaced all 5 earlier visits.
“We’re considering of the sport in entrance of us proper now, and we owe Austin,” Griffin Dorsey mentioned. “They took six factors from us.
“It’s a rivalry recreation in an excellent environment. It’ll be a terrific night time to take three factors from them, and [making history] would make it extra particular.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Austin FC – Jader Obrian
On Wednesday, Jader Obrian notched his team-leading sixth aim of the season, but it surely was his first highway aim in 2024.
The one MLS participant with at the very least six targets this season to have the next proportion of them coming at house than Obrian (83.3%) is William Agada of Sporting Kansas Metropolis (88.9%).
Fast strike from Jáder Obrian! pic.twitter.com/MihqEPdLCq
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) September 19, 2024
Houston Dynamo – Ezequiel Ponce
Ezequiel Ponce scored Houston’s lone aim on a penalty kick of their 1-1 draw with Vancouver on Wednesday.
It was simply the Dynamo’s second penalty try within the common season in 2024. The membership had at the very least 4 penalty-kick makes an attempt in every of the earlier seven seasons coming into 2024.
MATCH PREDICTION: HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN
The Dynamo have recorded three straight highway wins in all competitions for the primary time since a six-match successful streak away from house in 2011-12. That six-match run is Houston’s solely highway successful streak longer than three matches.
Austin have received three straight matches towards the Dynamo, preserving clear sheets in all three wins. The Black and Verde have by no means recorded 4 straight regular-season wins towards a single opponent.
Nevertheless, Austin have received simply considered one of their final six regular-season house matches (D2 L3) relationship again to late Could. They’d received 5 straight at Q2 Stadium previous to this drought.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Austin FC – 33.8%
Draw – 25.7%
Houston Dynamo – 40.5%
