The Texas Double: Austin FC Split Results With In-State Rivals
In the history of Major League Soccer, many teams have traveled to the Lone Start state for the Texas double - making the trip that far south often results in teams getting their fix of Houston and Dallas in the same trip. Austin FC followed that trend and started new rivalries this past week, playing their fellow Texas foes in consecutive matches. Though it’s a little different, since Austin is within Texas and hosted one of these matches, it still presented the challenges that a trip to Texas often does.
A 3-2 win hosting Houston on Wednesday and a 2-0 loss in Dallas on Saturday: the first round of Texas derbies offered mixed results for the boys in Verde. A near sold-out crowd for a scorching midweek game resulting in a wild atmosphere for Austin FC’s first ever match against an in-state rival. 20,738 fans threw a heck of a party at Q2 Stadium, as Tomás Pochettino’s brace resulted in a win for Austin FC, sending Houston home without a point. There’s one thing that’s certain about Austin FC’s inaugural season: the fans at Q2 Stadium create an atmosphere that is nothing short of phenomenal.
“20,738 fans threw a heck of a party at Q2 Stadium, as Tomás Pochettino’s brace resulted in a win for Austin FC, sending Houston home without a point.”
The unique aspects of Austin’s culture mixed with the supporters’ love for part-owner and spokesman Matthew McConaughey and their remixes of popular chants help create a unique, yet familiar experience in Austin. Minnesota United have their “Wonderwall” sing along following home wins, The Portland Timbers cap off goals by cutting a log and Atlanta United pound a railroad spike into place before every home match – Austin supporters chanting, “Alright, alright, alright, Austin FC,” to the tune of “Olé Olé Olé” is just as clever. I also enjoy the supporters’ remix of Camilla Cabello’s smash hit “Havana”, changing the word “Havana” to “McKalla” in honor of the street Austin’s Q2 stadium is on. Amongst the culture the fans have created, the soccer that is still evolving and the love shown by CONCACAF in allowing Q2 Stadium to host the Gold Cup semifinals is the injection of the color green (or verde) all over one of the newest American soccer palaces. The bright color stands out from the more common reds and blues across MLS landscape, putting Austin FC amongst other unique color combinations, such as Orlando SC’s purple or the Houston Dynamo’s orange. Austin has seemingly cemented itself into MLS supporter’s lore with their creatively cultivated culture, regardless of how the team performs. With that said, it won’t last long without wins.
That bring us to Austin’s second match of the Texas double. About 700 Austin FC supporters made the three-and-a-half-hour trip to Frisco to see their beloved team take on FC Dallas, after a stunning three goal effort against their other interstate rivals in orange. A 2-0 shutout loss to Dallas made us realize what Austin FC is: An expansion team. Austin looked flat and incapable of defending against a Dallas team that is 26 years their senior, which led to a short trek home without a point or a goal. However, with their recent run of form, Austin are no longer in the cellar - with half the season left to play and 10 more matches to come at Q2, making the playoffs is not an impossibility.
“ 2-0 shutout loss to Dallas made us realize what Austin FC is: An expansion team. Austin looked flat and incapable of defending …, which led to a short trek home without a point or a goal.”
Austin FC still is growing, which also means growing pains. Austin has the potential to be a great MLS club, but the combination of an inexperienced manager, players who haven’t been together very long and a very long road trip prior to Q2 Stadium opening, they’ve found themselves lower in the Western Conference table than they would have liked. Nonetheless, they also have a passionate fan base, an ownership group that wants to win and very young and talented DPs that are still adjusting.
Austin FC is on the up and up and I recommend you hop aboard. Unless, of course, you’re from Columbus, OH, but that’s probably a touchy subject.
