Austin FC Advances to Leagues Cup Quarterfinals With Shootout Win Over América

Austin FC qualified for the Leagues Cup quarterfinals with a 6-5 penalty shootout victory over Club América on Thursday at Q2 Stadium after the teams drew 1-1 through regulation. Brad Stuver made the decisive save in the sixth round of penalties. Austin finished second among 18 MLS teams in phase one with eight points and will face Liga MX side Toluca in the knockout stage.

How the match unfolded

Club América took a 1-0 lead in the 49th minute when Kevin Alvarez’s cross deflected off Austin FC defender Jon Gallagher into the net. Myrto Uzuni equalized in the 67th minute with a curling shot just inside the box. Neither team scored again in regulation, forcing a penalty shootout. Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver made the decisive save on Cristian Borja’s attempt in the sixth round to secure the two-point victory.

Austin’s dominant phase one performance

Austin FC went unbeaten through all three phase one matches, winning twice and earning the shootout victory. Myrto Uzuni scored a hat trick in the second match, a 3-0 win over Puebla, and finished the phase with four goals. Brad Stuver recorded shutouts in all three matches before conceding in the penalty shootout. Austin accumulated eight points and finished second in the MLS standings, ahead of Columbus on goal differential.

What’s next for Austin FC

Austin FC will face Toluca FC in the Leagues Cup quarterfinals at a date and location to be determined later in August. The tournament champion will be crowned on September 6, with the top three finishers qualifying for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup. Austin returns to MLS regular season play on Sunday, August 16 against FC Dallas at 7:30 p.m. CT.

Club América’s tournament exit

Club América entered the match needing three points to guarantee advancement after winning its first two phase one matches. The Liga MX powerhouse, which has won 16 league titles, finished third in the LIGA MX Leagues Cup table with six points. The shootout loss ended their tournament run despite an unbeaten record through regulation play.

Final Thoughts

Austin FC’s penalty shootout victory over Club América caps a perfect phase one campaign and positions the club for a deep Leagues Cup run. The Verde and Black will face Toluca in the quarterfinals with momentum from three straight wins.

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