El Tree hoping to start run up the standings against Toronto FC
As beneficial as Austin FC’s win over Seattle on Wednesday was in the standings to boost El Tree back into striking distance for a playoff position, it might have been even more important from a mental standpoint as the team heads into its first meeting ever with Toronto FC on Saturday at Q2 Stadium.
Austin FC hadn’t won an MLS match since March 11, a stretch of eight games, and though it generally played well in the weeks leading up to Wednesday's game, few things can provide an emotional boost like actually getting a much-needed three points.
“It’s validating and should give our guys confidence and momentum,” Austin FC coach Josh Wolff said Friday. “They were seeing and feeling over the last four games that we were building on some pretty good performances. We were getting more goals, creating more chances, and the wins become paramount to our ability to keep moving forward.”
In a season in which El Tree (3-5-4, 13 points) will play at least 41 times over four competitions — and it hopes that number is significantly higher due to advancing in the three in which it's still participating — Wolff said it’s paramount for the coaching staff and players to stay as even-keeled as possible and not overreact to good or bad stretches.
“That’s part of the process,” he said. “We have metrics and benchmarks inside games and groups of games that we want to see from both individuals and as a collective. It allows you to measure how the group is developing but also keep your eyes on what matters most — and that’s our ability to perform.”
Things can change quickly in the MLS over the course of a few weeks.
Only seven points separate sixth place from 14th in the Western Conference, and if a team gets hot over a month, it could easily climb into the top five.
“You can move up the table” fast, Wolff said, “so you’re always focused on the next match and try not to get too high or low.”
Saturday represents a good opportunity for Austin FC to build momentum with Toronto FC (2-7-4, 13 points) in a bit of turmoil. Bob Bradley, the former U.S. men’s national team coach who now leads Toronto, is considered to be in danger of losing his job because the club finished next to last in the East a year ago, is currently in last place and has failed to score in three straight games.
Like El Tree, Toronto has been ravaged by injuries and will be missing several key players Saturday, including former USMNT midfielder Michael Bradley, but Wolff said the Canadian club still poses a threat.
“They were missing a lot of players Wednesday (in a 0-0 tie vs. the New York Red Bulls), and it’s a long season where all teams are getting hit with this jammed schedule,” Wolff said. “But they have some of the best talent in the league, and when you have talent, you have the ability to pull plays off.”
Wingers Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi represent some of the talent Wolff is referring to, but both have largely underperformed this season after coming over from high-profile Italian clubs Napoli and Juventus.
Wolff also noted that forward C.J. Sapong is a dangerous threat, but at 34 years old he’s a shadow of the player he was in 2017, when he scored 16 goals for Philadelphia.
Still, in a league in which the top team in the West already has two home losses to teams in the bottom five of the conference, nothing can be taken for granted.
“We’re looking for another good performance, and hopefully that leads to a good result,” Wolff said.
Gyasi Zardes finds the net
Forward Gyasi Zardes scored his first goal for the club Wednesday in his 11th game, something he noted was a welcome relief.
“It’s nice to get off the mark,” Zardes said. “But I can’t celebrate it too much because we have such a quick turnaround. You kind of have to shift your focus to the next match.”
Zardes has been a constant source of frustration for fans and the target of criticism by the media after signing a hefty offseason contract and not producing much, but he said he doesn’t pay any attention to that and as a striker he looks at the future.
“You have to forget about the past and focus on the next game,” he said. “That’s been my mind frame in my career and still is to this day.”
Zardes is one of the more likable, media-friendly and jovial players on the club, and Wolff noted it’s a group effort to get him more production.
“He’s shown he can score goals for most of his career, and we have to keep feeding him and getting him opportunities,” Wolff said. “But contributions have to come from everybody.”
Austin FC is slowly getting healthy
El Tree’s roster should have significantly more depth Saturday than it did at midweek.
Midfielder Rodney Redes will be available after serving a one-game suspension due to receiving two yellow cards in last week’s 1-0 loss to Dallas, while center back Julio Cascante and forward Maxi Urruti should be available after minor injuries caused them to miss the Seattle contest.
Midfielder Sebastián Driussi is on track to return at the end of the month, Wolff said, and midfielder Diego Fagundez could be available to play 10-15 minutes after playing briefly Wednesday.
Saturday's match
Toronto FC (2-7-4, 13 points) at Austin FC (3-5-4, 13 points), 7:30 p.m., Q2 Stadium, Apple TV, 97.5
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin FC will go for its second win this week as it hosts Toronto
