Tim Thompson

Etching his name in the MLS History Books.

Congrats to @bradstuver.com for breaking the record of most saves made in a 5-year-span!

Both Dani and David Martínez (not officially called up for Venezuela) will be playing on Sunday. #AustinFC

I gave my Q2 model to a LUG friend who added lights to it. I wish I had this skill/knowledge. @mls.bsky.social #austinfc

🔥

I agree, and I think the international break is coming at a good time, even though Austin plays. Hopefully, the guys going to their national teams can get into those environments and come back with a renewed focus.

Colorado and San Jose are not eliminated yet, but can't catch Austin now.

Of course, if Austin can accumulate any points in their last 2 games vs. LAFC (home) and San Jose (away), the scenarios will be different.

RSL (not qualified yet): 40 points and 12 wins. 2 games left to play (Away vs. Seattle and Away vs. St. Louis)
- 2 wins: 46 points - 14 wins (Over Austin on points)
- 1 win/1 draw: 44 points - 13 wins (Over Austin on wins)
- 1 win/1 loss: 43 points - 13 wins
- 2 draws: 42 points - 12 wins

FC Dallas (not qualified yet): 41 points and 10 wins. 2 games left to play (Away vs. Galaxy and Away vs. Vancouver).

- 2 wins: 47 points - 12 wins (Over Austin on points)
- 1 win/1 draw: 45 points - 11 wins (Over Austin on points)
- 1 win/1 loss: 44 points - 11 wins
- 2 draws: 43 points - 10 wins

Portland: 44 points and 11 wins. 1 game left to play at home vs. San Diego.

If they:
- Win: 47 points - 12 wins (Over Austin on points)
- Draw: 45 points - 11 wins (Over Austin on points)
- Lose: Austin finishes ahead.

Now that Austin FC has made the playoffs, the goal should be to get results to get out of the 8-9 play-in game.

In a worst case scenario of Austin losing both of its remaining games, three of the teams currently near Austin could finish ahead of them. Austin has 44 points and 12 wins. (Thread)

AUSTIN Austin FC Austin will clinch a berth in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs if: 1. X Austin win/draw vs. St. Louis or... 2. V Colorado lose at Salt Lake AND San Jose lose/draw at Vancouver or... 3. X Salt Lake lose vs. Colorado AND San Jose lose/draw at Vancouver or... 4. X Colorado lose at Salt Lake AND Dallas lose vs. LA Or... 5. X Salt Lake lose vs. Colorado AND Dallas lose vs. LA or... 6. X Dallas lose vs. LA AND San Jose lose/draw at Vancouver UPDATE: Colorado lost at Salt Lake and San Jose lost at Vancouver.

How the magic happened… #AustinFC

@waatvofficial.bsky.social Hernan, thanks for calling out the lame electric guitar anthem in the Spaces last night. Keep preaching.

Liked: Looks like Brad got the Saves record. Svatok scored his first goal.
Disliked: Team looked really flat. Lots of slips and mistakes. Going back to the 4-back may not be working? 3 losses in a week. Vibes are bad rn.

Ricardo Fierro will ref tonight’s game vs. St. Louis CITY. He last reffed their 2-1 away win vs. LA Galaxy in July.

Ref: Ricardo Fierro
AR1: Jason White
AR2: Kevin Lock
4th: Malik Badawi
VAR: Sorin Stoica
AVAR: Mark Allatin

bsky.app/profile/timo...
Offensively:
🚫 Hit them on the counter: Quick transitions. Avoid passing back. Look for a final pass rather than shooting from long.
Push: Need some Buka and Owen magic. 🪄 Had some 🪄 , but not enough.
? Dani continue to make those sharp passes in final third. Not enough.

bsky.app/profile/timo...
Defensively.
Push: Beat the high press: They had some troubles playing out of the back, but did hit some long passes.
✅ Second balls: Try to clear out of the box.
Push: Blocking crosses: A cross led to the open play Mukhtar goal.
Push: Mark Surridge and Mukhtar.

Recap:
🚫 Mentality: Be aggressive, but smart. Win the dark arts battle.
✅ Transition defense: Stifle counterattacks by fouling when losing possession and hustling back.
n/a Stu: Need SuperStu. Honestly, a push, with Nashville only having 2 shots on target.
n/a Based on the past 2, get to 120.

Julio Cascante is doing the exact same thing. Players do this in the box all the time.

That ref was, uh, not ready for this game.

Liked: The guys played and defended hard. Nashville didn’t generate a lot of chances.
Disliked: The ref and the PK. The missed PK. The crossing and playing out of the back was very Wolffian. Nico overthought it. Losing a really good chance at silverware.

Tori Penso is really bad, I guess?

Liked: Bukari, Owen, the goal, the crowd, pressing their keeper
Disliked: Tori Penso, trying to play it out of the back vs. the press, the missed PK

What a rough time to blow the whistle 😅

Offensively:
- Hit them on the counter: Quick transitions. Avoid passing back. Look for a final pass rather than shooting from long.
- Need some Buka and Owen magic. 🪄
- Dani continue to make those sharp passes in final third.

Defensively:
- Beat the high press: If you need to kick it long, do it. Avoid back passing toward the center of the field. Dani will be essential here.
- Second balls: Try to clear out of the box.
- Blocking crosses, especially from Najar.
- Mark Surridge and Mukhtar.

I would say the keys for Austin FC to have a chance tonight are similar (thread).
- Mentality: Be aggressive, but smart. Win the dark arts battle.
- Transition defense: Stifle counterattacks by fouling when losing possession and hustling back.
- Stu: Need SuperStu
- Based on the past 2, get to 120.

WATCH our 110th 🇺🇸 Open Cup FINAL

👀 Paramount+ » ussoc.cr/hnt
👀 CBS Sports » ussoc.cr/yh7

TODAY | Oct. 1 | Kick » 8pm ET (Pre-Game 7pm ET)

Expect Nashville to send their kickoffs out of bounds into Austin FC's half tonight to initiate a high press on throw-ins as Minnesota did in the second half in their last Open Cup game.

The Eastern Conference is nuts. #MLS

Five things to watch in MLS this week:

1️⃣Two of Major League Soccer’s recent expansion clubs – Austin FC and Nashville SC – will battle for their first ever trophy during Wednesday night’s U.S. Open Cup Final.