Austin FC begins its 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup journey at home this Wednesday, when the Verde & Black will welcome USL Championship club New Mexico United to Q2 Stadium in the knockout tournament’s Round of 32. The match is set for an 8:00 p.m. kickoff, with the winner earning a spot in Thursday’s draw for the Round of 16.
Tune-In
Fans can stream the match for free on the B/R Football YouTube channel and the B/R Football app.
Austin FC Outlook
Austin FC enters this year’s U.S. Open Cup in the Round of 32, needing four wins to reach the tournament final and five to lift American soccer’s most historic trophy. It’s a cup which the Club have clear ambitions to win, not only to capture a piece of major silverware but also to earn a berth in the 2024 Concacaf Champions League.
The Verde & Black picked up a hard-fought road point in Portland on Saturday, erasing a one-goal deficit on two occasions against the Timbers. Will Bruin netted his first Austin goal, popping up to head home an excellent cross from Owen Wolff and level the score in the 92nd-minute.
Jon Gallagher also grabbed his fourth goal of the season, the most among all MLS defenders. Julio Cascante made his first appearance since suffering an injury in Austin’s season opener, playing a strong 74 minutes. The return of the Costa Rican center back is a big boost for the Verde & Black, who need all hands on deck for a busy May fixture list made even busier by their participation in the Open Cup.
Wednesday will mark the first-ever match played at Q2 Stadium in the knockout competition. Austin will look to impose its will and style of play on New Mexico, and make home-field advantage count.
New Mexico United Outlook
Teams from the USL Championship have proved to be tough matchups in the Open Cup, and New Mexico is no exception. The club reached the tournament quarterfinals in 2019, upsetting a pair of MLS opponents (Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas) along the way.
This season, United bested amateur side UDA Soccer 6-0 in the Second Round and rivals Phoenix Rising FC 2-1 in the Third Round to set up a meeting with Austin. While the team has struggled in league play, its last two results have both been positive: a 3-1 victory over Orange County SC at home followed by a 2-2 draw at Rio Grande Valley FC. The latter came courtesy of a dramatic comeback, in which New Mexico scored twice in second-half stoppage time.
Attackers Greg Hurst and Josh Dolling are both names to keep an eye on. In the win over Orange County, Dolling assisted all three of the team’s goals, including two to Hurst. Each player scored one goal in New Mexico’s Second Round triumph over Phoenix. Defender Kalen Ryden, winger Santi Moar, and goalkeeper Alex Tambakis are all key pieces as veterans.
Possible New Mexico Lineup
(4-2-1-3, R-L) - GK: Alex Tambakis; Austin Yearwood, Will Seymore, Kalen Ryden, Josh Suggs; Harry Swartz, Justin Portillo; Sergio Rivas; Santi Moar, Josh Dolling, Greg Hurst
