Austin FC return to Q2 Stadium on Saturday aiming to build on their recent win over Colorado Rapids, as they face a New York Red Bulls side brimming with momentum after three straight MLS victories.
Austin Seeking Consistency at Home
After a patchy run of results through May, Austin FC got back on track last weekend with a 2-0 win away to Colorado Rapids — their first away league win since March. Nico Estevez’s men have now kept seven clean sheets this season, and although they’ve scored the fewest goals in the Western Conference (13), their defensive shape has kept them in playoff contention.
Sitting seventh in the West with 23 points from 18 matches, the Verde and Black have only won three of their nine home games this season. Still, they’ve proven hard to beat at Q2 recently, losing just once in their last seven home league outings — that lone loss coming against Minnesota United.
Historically, Austin haven’t enjoyed much success against Eastern Conference sides, and they’ll be mindful of their last home defeat to a team from the East — a 4-3 thriller against the Red Bulls in 2022.
Red Bulls Finding Their Groove
After a brief stumble in May, New York Red Bulls have rediscovered their rhythm. Following a morale-boosting U.S. Open Cup comeback win over FC Dallas, they’ve carried that confidence into the league, notching consecutive victories over Columbus Crew, Charlotte FC, and Atlanta United.
That streak has seen them surge to sixth in the Eastern Conference, just three points behind second-place FC Cincinnati. Saturday’s clash offers them a chance to make it four straight MLS wins for the first time since October 2021.
Sandro Schwarz’s side haven’t always travelled well — losing three of their last four away games in the league — but they arrive in Texas with renewed belief. They’ve never lost to Austin in MLS play and haven’t dropped a regular-season match against a Texas side since 2019.
Form Guide
Austin have shown signs of defensive improvement recently, bouncing back from a difficult run with a win in Colorado. Prior to that, they endured a frustrating stretch of four consecutive draws, followed by a 2-1 defeat to LA Galaxy. However, the Rapids result marked their second clean sheet in three games and hinted at renewed solidity.
New York are on a hot streak. After back-to-back losses to Inter Miami and Charlotte, they’ve bounced back in style, winning three league games in a row. That run includes a 4-2 win over Charlotte and a composed 2-0 victory over Atlanta. With four wins in all competitions on the bounce, the Red Bulls are hitting form at just the right time.
Team News
Austin FC were without Julio Cascante last week due to a hamstring injury, while youngsters Myrto Uzuni and Micah Burton were away on international duty. Mikkel Desler opened the scoring against Colorado, with a second goal coming via a Rafael Navarro own goal. Brad Stuver played a crucial role with five saves to secure the clean sheet.
New York Red Bulls were missing several regulars last time out. Felipe Carballo (abdominal strain), Dylan Nealis (muscle issue), and Lewis Morgan (knee injury) were all absent. However, Cameron Harper and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting stepped up, both scoring in the win over Atlanta. Carlos Coronel made three saves to keep a clean sheet.
Predicted Lineups
Austin FC:
Stuver; Desler, Svatok, Hines-Ike, Biro; Bukari, Pereira, Sanchez, Gallagher; Wolff; Vazquez
New York Red Bulls:
Coronel; Duncan, Eile, Hack, Valencia; Carmona, Edelman, Stroud; Harper, Forsberg; Choupo-Moting
Kickoff:
Saturday, June 15 | 01:30 WAT | Q2 Stadium
Prediction: Austin FC 1-2 New York Red Bulls
While Austin remain tough to beat at home, their scoring woes could hold them back against a rejuvenated Red Bulls side riding a wave of confidence. With experience and form on their side, New York might just edge this one in a close contest.