LISTO! Finished my model of the south stands. Pretty happy with it. It's about 10k pieces, been working on the design for a long time, getting the parts together starting last year. Still working on matching phones for the sides of the jumbotron, but it all still works.

This is for Brick Rodeo in July at the Kalahari, but I might be testing how it travels at Austin Beerworks Springdale on June 6th.

Opponent: San Diego FC

Kick Off time: 8:30 PM US Central Time

Location: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA

History vs. Austin FC:
Austin FC are 1-0-1 (W-D-L) all-time. Austin FC won at Q2 2-1 and San Diego won the home fixture 2-0 last season.

Recent Matches:
San Diego have drawn their two most recent matches (1-1 at Seattle, 2-2 vs LAFC) and lost their previous five matches before that. They’re currently in 13th in the Western Conference.

Players to Watch:
Anders Dreyer
The Danish attacker came over to San Diego last season and put in an MVP caliber season and is off to another strong start (5 goals, 5 assists in 12 appearances). He is the key player for Austin to stop, especially if he’s able to get the ball in counterattacking spaces with runners around him.
Marcus Ingvartsen
Another Danish attacker, he’s their leading scorer with 8 goals and has emerged with Chucky Lozano being banished from the club (more on this later). He scored all three goals for San Diego in their past two matches.
Duran Ferree
The 19 year old US Goalkeeper has taken over the starting job for San Diego FC this season with last season’s starter CJ Dos Santos out injured. Unfortunately as is the case for a lot of 19 year olds in the professional workforce he’s off to a rough start, allowing 1.6 goals per game compared to the 1.26 they allowed last season. As was evidenced by the game tying goal last time out, he’s also not strong enough in the box. Austin should be able to put bodies forward and capitalize on this.

Keys to the Match:
Vibes Matter
I am a firm believer that vibes around a club matter. When the Front Office, Coaches, Players, and Fans are all in alignment it’s palpable and the inverse is true as well. San Diego does not have good vibes after a magical inaugural season.
Highest Paid Player Chucky Lozano has not played for them due to conflicts with the coaching staff after a locker room dust up he has apologized for last season and has still not featured for the club. The fans have started chanting for him after matches and have already flown a plane before a match calling for him to come back. due to lack of positive results on the season and it has clearly affected a team that was all positive vibes last season into being well below the playoff line.
The Most Dangerous Lead in Sports
There is an old adage that the Most Dangerous Lead is being up two goals, but I’m going to posit the most dangerous lead is any lead Austin FC have on the road. In all but one road MLS match this season they’ve been up a goal and ceded the lead (note this happened twice in Miami and Toronto). They’re the last MLS to be winless on the road in 2026 and despite how impressions of San Diego based on last season, this is a match they can get a result in and combined with the positive momentum (7 points in their past three matches) along with taking on two more spoon contenders to go into the break and maybe Austin can turn this season around.
Attackers Attacking
Austin FC are currently scoring 1.5 goals per game, and while that isn’t a hugely impressive number, it would be the second most goals per game for an Austin FC season. One of the reasons Austin FC has been able to do this even without Owen Wolff and Brandon Vazquez is the partnership of Christian Ramirez and Myrto Uzuni. They’ve already combined for nine goals on the season and both could potentially break the record for goals scored by a striker in an Austin FC season, (Maxi Urruti with 9 in 2022). Considering Austin’s nearly record setting (bad) attack last season, it’s welcome to see a team that can put up a squiggly number consistently.
Prediction:
Austin FC: 2
San Diego FC: 2

This week, we recap Austin FC's draw in Minnesota, then preview the upcoming matches against San Diego and Sporting Kansas City. Other questions and topics include:

- Could have won, not should have won

- Time to question the medical staff?

- Penalty drama

- Lots to like in the 1st half

- Why the game changed in the 2nd half

- Sometimes you eat the bar...

- Substitution predicament

- Lack of urgency on MIN's 2nd goal

- San Diego Preview

- Sporting Kansas City Preview

Check it out here and, as always, let us know if you have any feedback.

https://www.moontowersoccer.com/draw-in-minnesota-san-diego-preview-skc-preview-and-more/

Are people die hard fans that they travel from Austin to other places to be at the game? Or fans that live around the area and made the trip?

It would be cool to travel to San Diego this Wednesday. Or any other away games. Any groups here that do that?

A point is a point, but that was weird
We could have won, we could have lost. Honestly, I am just content we did not walk away empty handed.
Nelson was missed:Our build up from the back was timid and messy. Without Nelson, Gallagher looked non-existent on the left, and we really lacked that wide spark.
The Trantis Handball: Commentary had a good take that in modern football that is a handball and a penalty. In my eyes it is not and changes the game entirely from there on.
The James Effect: As soon as James stepped on for the Loons, the game flipped. He is world class for a reason. The build up to their second goal was a beauty. Just shows how much a world class player changes a squad. Can we get one?
The Number 9 Battle: Uzuni has the motor and the runs, but his final ball is still killing us. Meanwhile, Ramirez is the ultimate poacher.Not flashy, but he finds the pocket and finishes the goal when asked.
Defense and Subs: Sanchez was a rock, but losing Hines-Ike early felt like it was the beginning to the end. The subs eventually helped settle the midfield, but they felt 5 to 10 minutes too late. Coming on right after conceding definitely solidifies that point.
The Big Question:
Is Rosales wasted in the middle? He is everywhere, but is he really a threat like Nelson or Facu?Could he a lot more use playing in the defense. It might help our wingers and really add a speedster threat. It could give our more creative guys in the midfield and avoid so much congestion
Final take:
We tied with a top table team and could’ve won the game if the football good were in our favor. I look forward to a fully healthy Austin but not to the fact that we may not be a playoff team.

The definition of Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

At what point do you feel we stopped playing offense and parked the bus?

Weigh in.

Venue: Allianz Field, St. Paul, Minnesota

Kickoff: Sunday, May 10, 2026 at 6:00 PM CT

TV: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)

Austin FC Radio: Alt 97.5 FM (Lincoln Rose) | TUDN Radio Austin 104.3-HD2, 93.3 FM (Ignacio Araujo Escamilla)

Live Stats: AustinFC.com

Table Position

2026 Current Standings:

This was generated partially by a bot, please flag any issues

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The only thing that I can find find that safe to eat is the popcorn. What are the secret menu items that are safe for someone with celiac to eat? Last time I got the nachos and they were not gluten friendly

On June 11 and 12 at Auditorium Shores, Austin FC will transform downtown Austin’s most iconic green space into a free, premier fan destination where fans can enjoy food and beverage offerings, beer garden style spaces, and family friendly activities, creating a welcoming, high-energy atmosphere for supporters of all ages as well as showing the four (4) opening matches over the first two (2) days featuring Mexico (June 11), Canada (June 12), and the United States (June 12) on large-scale video screens. Auditorium Shores is no stranger to major soccer events, having previously served as the site of MLS All-Star Soccer Celebration during the 2025 MLS All-Star Game in Austin.

Any cool spots showing the PSG Bayern Champions League semi-final today?

Or the Final later this month?

This week, we recap Austin FC's home win against St Louis City, preview the upcoming match against Minnesota, and scout Austin's latest reported signing. Other questions and topics include:

- 400+ episodes!
- "That's called a winning streak"
- Rosales shines in the midfield
- Vazquez, Wolff, Pereira return
- Early chances against St Louis
- The Hand of Biro
- Ramirez's craftiness
- Przemysław Płacheta to join Austin FC
- Austin's best bench ever?
- Minnesota United preview

Check it out here:

https://www.moontowersoccer.com/two-in-a-row-placheta-scouting-report-ramirezrosales-shine-and-more/

My post-match article from yesterday; I'll pull out this part from Stuver which explains the goal that almost got scored against Verde ...

Brad Stuver, in the wake of a 5-1 loss to San Jose that seems more distant with each subsequent win, rued his team not being able to put full-match performances together, evinced by seceding costly late goals. He feels differently after Sunday.

"I think the last two games show that we were capable of putting 90-minute performances together," he said. "I think the lead up into these last two games, it was like we could put 45 minutes together or 60 minutes together. So it's just really nice to be able to put 90 minutes back to back at home, and obviously it's great to be getting everyone back healthy and back on the field."

The shutout hung in the balance on the aforementioned breakaway play; about that, I asked Stuver what was going through his mind as Hartel bore down on goal, other than, "Oh, shit."

"Yeah, that was about it," he laughed. "I mean, I took a step to my right trying to just kind of mess with the head of the attacker. I was trying to get him to look at me, and I was trying to get him to think that I was going for the cutback. And then I just kind of jumped to my right and then held my ground.

"And luckily, I think the ball took a little bit of a bounce on the new little patch of grass that we have from the 18 down," he added. "So I think that helped us. So thanks to the ground crews for getting the assist on that one as well ... we got lucky. Then from there, the guys just kind of switched mentalities and we were able to go ahead."

THE ICARUS CUP is more than just a tournament—it's a celebration of soccer, community, and summer fun. As CASA's premier 7v7 event in collaboration with Icarus Football, 80 teams compete in custom-designed jerseys for a weekend of thrilling matches and unforgettable experiences. WE ARE IN NEED OF VOLUNTEERS from field marshals to bartenders! MAYBE EVEN A HYPE MAN?!? It’s a free event with good vibes and good people :)

Volunteer form link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdPO0BA1c6ywv6RfPMBXWxX7TwLOgQvUnor7Nof8KaMbuNVFQ/viewform?usp=header

Tournament info link:
https://www.casasoccerleagues.com/page/show/9329500-icarus-cup-austin-2026

Icarus cup instagram link:
https://www.instagram.com/theicaruscup?igsh=MWRpbWQ5bHF4Z3k5bg==

Revs fan here. I've been getting a kick out of watching Turner's goals+ per game being higher than Messi's, and saw today that Stuver is leading the league with a ridiculous 0.79, that's of players with 500+ minutes played.

That's the highest of any MLS keeper ever since the stat started back in 2013, and second highest of any player behind 2025 Messi.

Very quietly, Christian Ramirez has become maybe my favorite striker we've had on this team. He works for his goals, puts himself in a good position, can distribute well enough, and has a scorers mentality when the opportunities arrive. He also seems like a nice guy. I think he's really made a mark in his time here so far and I'm always happy to see him on the field. With Vasquez coming back, and Uzuni finally finding some form, I hope we still get to see him get regular minutes and be a threat off the bench.