Austin FC wants to make this a really big week.
Four nights after winning the first game of the week, the team is back in action against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night in Austin, Texas.
“We have to rest and see what’s in store for Kansas City — a well-rested team,” Austin coach Josh Wolff said. “We will be ready to go and I know our fans will be there for us as well.”
Austin (5-4-4, 19 points) is coming off a 1-0 home win against the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday night, giving the team four straight home wins.
In the last five games overall, Austin has four clean sheets.
“We know at the end of the day, it’s about winning,” said Wolff, a former Kansas City player. “We are by no means a finished product.”
While Austin goaltender Brad Stuver has been on duty when called upon, the play in front of him has added to the defense’s solid numbers. Stuver leads MLS with 65 saves this season.
“It’s challenging, you have to make impact plays on both ends of the court,” Wolff said. “When an opportunity came, we were able to take it.”
Sporting KC (2-5-5, 11 points) has lost three of its last four games and won just once in a seven-game stretch (1-4-2). She also played Houston as her most recent opponent.
“This is a very similar group to what we had last year,” SKC coach Peter Vermes said. “It’s a mindset now. It’s not that they don’t have it, it’s just that it’s not happening.”
Vermes said that he has not felt that there is enough suffering from his team when the desired results are not achieved. He said that should have changed in the week between a 2-1 home loss to Houston and the trip to Austin.
“Mentality change,” Vermes said. “Sport is about desire, passion.”
Erik Thommy scored a team-high four goals for Kansas City.
Austin, which has won four of the last five games in the series against Sporting KC, is counting on a boost in front of the home crowd. Kansas City is 0-3-0 all-time in Austin.
“The fans, bringing the energy and getting these guys up and you can feel the wave,” Wolff said.
The teams will meet again next month.
