Austin FC II relishing opportunity
The opportunity Austin FC II faces over the near future isn't lost on its coaches and players.
With the U.S. Open Cup taking on a new form with only eight MLS first teams participating and the use of 11 MLS Next Pro squads, Austin FC's second team will compete in the oldest soccer competition in the country starting Tuesday when it hosts Foro SC in the first round at Parmer Field.
“It's huge to play in a knockout competition, which has quite a different feel,” said Austin FC II coach Brett Uttley, who led the club to the league title in the fall. “We experienced that as a group in the playoffs last season, and it just has a different environment and buzz to it.”
Starting in 1913, the U.S. Open Cup is a tournament that features professional and amateur teams from across the country. MLS balked in the offseason at participating this year due to schedule congestion and monetary reasons, but an agreement with U.S. Soccer was finally reached to use some second teams.
With Austin FC II being the reigning MLS Next Pro champion, it earned one of the league's 11 spots.
This year's competition has 96 teams, with USL Championship — which is the second division of the U.S. soccer pyramid, below only the MLS — and MLS first teams entering in the third and fourth rounds. Foro SC is out of Dallas and plays in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), which is in the fourth division of U.S. soccer, one level below MLS Next Pro.
While Austin FC II is a longshot to win the tournament, it has a chance to possibly meet an MLS first team if it manages the first two rounds and upsets a USL Championship team in the third round.
Austin FC II lost some key players from its championship roster a year ago, most notably goalie Damian Las, who was the MLS Next Pro goalkeeper of the year and is currently on loan to Louisville City FC from the first team. However, the club is taking the competition seriously as it has made first-team reserve players midfielder Micah Burton and forward CJ Fodrey available to play for Austin FC II.
One thing that should also help the Verde and Black is that an expanded capacity sellout crowd of 1,300 is expected.
Most second teams generally play in front of only family and friends, but Austin FC II has the luxury of playing in a true home-field advantage, as most of its home games a year ago drew at least 700 fans.
“It's truly a unique environment,” Uttley said. “When you see the support of the fans, it's like a much smaller version of Q2. You can feel the crowd, feel the excitement and feel the connection our players have with the fans. … And we really try to utilize the fans as our 12th player.”