Who has time for patience when the home team is inconsistent and valuable Major League Soccer (MLS) points are up for grabs week in and week out?

Not whoever paid for a banner to be flown over Q2 Stadium that read “AUSTIN DESERVES BETTER #WOLFOUT” (the misspelling of Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff’s name is the banner maker’s and not this author’s) before Austin FC faced perennial MLS Western Conference bullies the Seattle Sounders on Saturday night.

Those who funded the banner – and those who loudly chanted “Wolff out” as the match was nearing its conclusion – may not care, but it’s worth noting: the Austin FC that were defeated 1-0 by the Sounders will be very different from the Austin FC that will exist after July 18th – the date MLS’s secondary transfer window opens.

New signings winger Osman Bukari, full-back Mikkel Desler, and center-back Oleksandr Svatok will all be eligible to feature after that date. All three players have impressive resumes and will likely be regular starters by the time Austin FC’s season concludes. And while Austin FC’s head coach is a divisive figure, there should be no disagreement among fans that this is a roster that could use strengthening.

Much discussion on Austin FC’s struggles in 2024 has centered around the team’s failure to produce shots. Per fbref.com, Austin FC entered their contest with Seattle dead last in MLS in shots per 90 minutes – and it wasn’t even close. Austin FC’s 8.27 shots per 90 was a full two shots less than the next-from-bottom team.

This scant shot production should understandably have fans praying to their god of choice for more work for opposition goalkeepers, but what might be even more alarming is Austin FC haven’t even been getting the ball into areas where they could shoot. Austin FC’s 16.5 touches per 90 in the attacking penalty area were joint-bottom with fellow Lone Star strugglers FC Dallas. And only FC Dallas and Nashville SC have had fewer touches in the attacking third of the pitch.

Against Seattle, there was an improvement in both how often Austin FC advanced the ball into dangerous positions and in how many shots they took. Per fotmob.com, the Verde and Black accrued 21 touches in the attacking penalty area to Seattle’s 12 and outshot the Sounders 13 to 9. Despite these encouraging numbers, Austin FC’s execution where it matters most was lacking.

“They (Seattle) have a very physical backline, but we arrived well in and around their penalty box,” Wolff said in his post-match press conference. “We had a lot of possession in there. We’re getting behind the line, sometimes there’s early service, sometimes we could be a little bit better with getting to the end line just to force that backline to face…I think it’s more about how we can collectively move into those positions,” he added.

Austin FC consistently looked on the precipice of creating high-danger chances but never quite delivered. The home team had more possession, more shots, and more touches in the opposition penalty area. Yet, frustratingly, Austin FC still produced fewer expected goals (xG) than their visitors – .64 xG to Seattle’s .78 xG.

Also frustrating was how Austin FC conceded the match’s only goal. In the 63rd minute of a sluggish contest with strong dog days of summer vibes, Austin FC’s midfield allowed Seattle midfielder Obed Vargas to waltz freely to the edge of the penalty area. A quick flick of the ball to winger Paul Rothrock, followed by a touch and a pass from Rothrock to substitute striker Jordan Morris perfectly set the Sounder’s marksman up to slide the ball across the goal line.

The difficult task of erasing a one-goal deficit against one of the league’s stingiest defenses became borderline impossible in the 77th minute when Austin FC center-back Brendan Hines-Ike collected a second yellow card for a foul on Morris near Austin FC’s penalty box. Though Austin FC came closer to an unlikely equalizer than most would have expected after Hines-Ike’s dismissal, the Verde and Black still ultimately suffered their third home defeat of the season.

Turbulent as these times may be – the defeat dropped Austin FC below the Western Conference playoff line – help is on the way. When asked how soon Austin FC’s new signings will feature once eligible to play, Wolff replied: “We got to get them acclimated. We won’t waste much time. As soon as they’re able to get in, we’ll start utilizing them.”

For Wolff and Austin FC’s disgruntled fan base, smoother skies and fewer planes will hopefully be on the horizon.

Eric McCoy

See Full Bio