When Austin FC announced the loan signing of Ecuadorian winger Washington Corozo on July 6, it added a player with a unique skill set among its attacking corps. Corozo’s quick and direct style of play was on full display during his Club debut last Sunday, in which he came on as a 77th-minute substitute.
He registered his first assist in Major League Soccer just four minutes later, and did so in spectacular fashion, hitting a bicycle kick across the face of goal for Ethan Finlay to finish off. Corozo also recorded a shot and a 100 percent pass accuracy rating in his cameo appearance.
“I have high expectations for myself here. First, I want to keep earning more minutes and earn my spot in the team in order to gain points and to be called up to my national team,” said Corozo. “Then, the same thing with my national team – fight for my place, and for minutes because that’s the biggest goal I have, to play for my country at the World Cup.”
With those goals in mind, Corozo is aware of the work ahead of him and the team. The Verde & Black have a highly-talented group of wingers, and the competition among the group raises everyone’s level.
“I’ve seen that the competition here is healthy, it’s among colleagues,” said Corozo. “I hope to keep giving it my all so I can earn a spot.”
“It’s going to be very important that I do my part to adapt to the style of play as quickly as I’m able to. The reality is that it’s both an offensive and defensive system, I have to attack and defend. I think as time goes on, I’ll keep adapting bit by bit, and earn as many minutes as I can which is what I most want.”
Austin FC Head Coach Josh Wolff also saw promise in Corozo’s performance. Albeit brief, Corozo showed many of the reasons why the Verde & Black brought him in.
“I think he came in and he certainly showed a little bit of what he is,” said Wolff. “He came out flying, and he’s quick, he’s shifty 1v1. He does a good job to get on the end of that cross, I think we had four or five guys arriving in the box at that time and he does a good job to keep that ball alive.
“We’re just continuing to detail what his role is. As we have differing variations of our tactics, how he can be useful both when the ball comes to his feet but also when the ball is not at his feet, understanding our principles a bit more. The times to run behind the line, the times that he can look to combine, just aligning those things a bit more. Very good first touch, really clean, and you can see how elusive he is when he’s on the ball.”
