New Tactics Gel for Austin FC in Leagues Cup Opening Win

Thursday night’s 2-0 Austin FC win over Tijuana in the Leagues Cup opener could have fooled you in a few ways, if you didn’t know better.

You might have been fooled into thinking that Austin FC was the class of Major League Soccer, as opposed to a bottom-five club. You might have been fooled into thinking that the teenaged midfield phenom destined for an imminent multimillion dollar transfer to Europe was Austin’s Ervin Torres, as opposed to Tijuana’s Gilberto Mora. And you might have been fooled into thinking that Davy Arnaud was in his fourth or fifth season as Austin FC head coach spearheading a tried-and-true system, as opposed to an interim coach yet to see much in the way of results from his tactical changes since Nico Estévez’s departure.

It was as if the start of a fresh competition against unfamiliar opposition, and the chance to play at Q2 Stadium, was exactly what the Verde and Black needed for things to finally click. Particularly, Arnaud’s dedication to playing inverted wingers – left-footed Joseph Rosales on the right and right-footed Jon Gallagher on the left – worked like a charm after seeming like a lost cause less than a week earlier.

Rosales was everywhere for Austin FC, including on the scoresheet in the 16th minute. The Honduran made a smart run into the box behind Tijuana’s defense that Myrto Uzuni, who had dropped deep into midfield, spotted and delivered a perfect ball over the top. Rosales took one touch then fired a shot with his inside left foot into the far corner for one of ATXFC’s finest goals of the season. 

A beautiful link-up for the opener!