Austin FC Suffers Heartbreak in Missed Open Cup Opportunity

The wait goes on for Austin FC’s first major trophy as the Verde and Black squandered a chance to lift the U.S. Open Cup in front of their home supporters Wednesday night. 

Instead, the ATX players and coaches were forced to make the melancholy march across the stage to accept runners-up medals while Nashville SC, winners by a score of 2-1, celebrated that club’s maiden championship on Austin’s pitch.

The final whistle of the tight and emotionally charged final rang like the stroke of midnight for Verde fans as Austin’s improbable run through the nation’s oldest pro soccer competition ended in heartbreak. There was no last-minute CJ Fodrey goal to save them, nor a clutch Brad Stuver save to deny Nashville’s winning goal from the penalty spot.

“Really fucking hurts,” ATX defender Jon Gallagher summed up afterward. “I thought we were probably the more deserving on the night, but it’s a final. It doesn’t matter.”

Nashville landed the first strike in the 17th minute with some beautifully executed build-up play that opened things up for superstar midfielder Hany Mukhtar to score a swinging half-volley goal.

Austin’s response was immediate, though. Less than two minutes later, Owen Wolff spotted the run of Myrto Uzuni in behind the Nashville defense and delivered a through ball directly between Uzuni and Nashville goalkeeper Brian Schwake. Uzuni won the race as the two players collided, and referee Tori Penso awarded Austin the penalty kick. VAR elected not to intervene, despite replay showing that Schwake got a touch on the ball before upending Uzuni.

It was moot, though, as Austin’s Albanian international struck a poor penalty kick easily saved by Schwake to preserve Nashville’s lead.

Austin dominated the chances throughout the remainder of the first half but failed to put one away. That is, until stoppage time, when Uzuni made amends for his missed spot kick by depositing an Ilie Sánchez pass through Schwake’s legs to level things at 1-1, igniting one of the loudest roars in Q2 Stadium’s history.

Massive equalizer from Myrto Uzuni!! pic.twitter.com/UHYd0MkqUN

The pivotal moment of the match, though, came during a Nashville corner kick in the 57th minute. Austin midfielder Dani Pereira tied up with Nashville’s Jeisson Palacios as both players tumbled to the turf, and Penso, after specifically warning Pereira about excessive grabbing moments prior, awarded Nashville a controversial penalty kick.

“We were both grabbing each other. It happens every corner [kick],” Pereira said. “I think it’s soft for a final.”

That was the prevailing opinion not only among Pereira’s teammates – Gallagher did all he could to avoid saying something about the decision that would result in a fine – but also among the ex-players on CBSSN’s post-game show. But more relevantly, Nashville striker Sam Surridge coolly converted the penalty kick to restore Nashville’s lead.

The final half hour of the match was a difficult watch as Nashville hunkered down in defense and burned clock any chance it could, frustrating the Q2 faithful to no end. Austin managed to create only one or two half-chances before Penso blew the final whistle.

“This is the press conference that you don’t want to have,” ATX coach Nico Estévez said as Nashville celebrated with the Open Cup trophy and their commendable contingent of traveling fans. “Hopefully we learn from today and that pain that we have is the fuel that helps us to wake up tomorrow and leads us to get what we want to get in the rest of the season.”

Perhaps some of that pain will be alleviated knowing that there just isn’t time to dwell on the Open Cup gut punch with St. Louis City headed to Austin on Saturday as the Verde and Black return their focus to MLS play. A win would clinch the club’s second-ever playoff berth.

“[We have to] put all of our focus now on making what the club’s main objective was the beginning season,” defender Brendan Hines-Ike said, “Which was the return to the playoffs.”

The post Austin FC Suffers Heartbreak in Missed Open Cup Opportunity appeared first on The Austin Chronicle.