On Saturday night, Austin FC will play its first MLS match at Q2 Stadium since its 1-0 victory over CF Montréal three weeks ago, when the Verde & Black host Colorado Rapids for a 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
Tune-In
MLS Season Pass subscribers can watch the match in English or Spanish on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries.
- Stream: Click here to watch the match, or access it through any device compatible with the Apple TV app. An MLS Season Pass subscription is required.
- Radio: The match will be broadcast live locally in English on iHeart Radio’s Alt 97.5, and in Spanish on Univision’s TUDN Radio Austin (104.3-HD2, KLQB-FM).
Austin FC Outlook
It’s been an up-and-down start to 2023 for the Verde & Black, with two wins and two losses through the first four matches of the MLS campaign. For the first time in three weeks, the team will have a full week to prepare for a match, providing extra rest and recovery in the buildup to Saturday after a stretch of five games in 14 days.
With Leo Väisänen (Finland) and Owen Wolff (U.S. U-20) set to miss the Colorado match after earning national team call-ups for their strong performances early in the season, Saturday is a chance for others to fill in and shine.
In addition to Väisänen and Wolff, several Austin players have performed well during the last month. Sebastián Driussi has three goals in five games across all competitions, while his Argentine compatriot Emiliano Rigoni leads the team in both key passes and chances created.
Jon Gallagher has two goals and one assist in four MLS matches, while Dani Pereira is passing at a 90 percent success rate and ranks third among all MLS midfielders in total interceptions.
After the Colorado match, Austin FC has a two-week break before its next fixture.
Colorado Rapids Outlook
Colorado’s campaign is off to a rocky start, with one goal scored in one draw and three defeats through its opening four matches. That doesn’t mean Head Coach Robin Fraser’s team can be taken lightly though, with plenty of talent still present throughout the squad.
Homegrown product Cole Bassett netted a goal in the team’s match against Minnesota United last week. Jonathan Lewis is another significant attacking threat, as is winger Kévin Cabral, who arrived from the LA Galaxy in the offseason. Defender Lalas Abubakar is a tough task to beat in defense and poses aerial problems on set pieces as well.
Like Austin, the Rapids will be missing a few players on Saturday through international duty. Forward (and the team’s leading scorer in 2022) Diego Rubio is away with Chile, and forward Darren Yapi is competing alongside Owen Wolff with the U.S. U-20 team. Colorado captain and midfielder Jack Price suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury last weekend as well.
Possible Colorado Lineup
(3-4-3, R-L) - GK: William Yarbrough; Lalas Abubakar, Andreas Maxsø, Danny Wilson; Sam Nicholson, Max Alves, Connor Ronan, Anthony Markanich; Cole Bassett, Jonathan Lewis, Michael Barrios
