Austin Bold finished in 8th place in the Western Conference table with 48 points. That was 30 points behind Rising, who finished top with 78.
Bold featured in a play-in game against Los Dos on Wednesday, and came out as 2-0 victors. Ema Twumasi found the net early, before Sean McFarlane doubled the advantage in the second half.
Bold lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation. In a heated encounter, four Austin players made it into the book, with three Galaxy II players joining them.
However, Austin’s form on the road has been awful this season. Bold has won just three of its 17 matches away from home, and scored 18 goals compared to 32 conceded. Those three wins were recorded at Tulsa, RGV and Timbers 2.
Austin is most dangerous at scoring in the second half away from home. The team’s most lethal spell comes in the last 15 minutes of a game.
They are also susceptible to conceding a goal in the last 15 minutes, in addition to the first 15 minutes after the break.
MEETING 1: Austin 1-0 Phoenix
A much-changed Rising XI headed to Austin on an April Wednesday night, shortly after the team recorded its first victory the weekend prior at El Paso Locomotive.
Rising dominated the match as Austin celebrated farm animals, holding them in a pen away from the stadium and bizarrely playing noises over the PA system.
Phoenix held the advantage in possession, aerial duels and shots, but ultimately was unable to convert.
Sonny Guadarrama’s effort was the difference between the two sides, as Phoenix suffered its first defeat of the season.
MEETING 2: Phoenix 6-0 Austin
Rising’s last matchup with Austin came in July, as Phoenix raced to a 6-0 victory at Casino Arizona Field.
Rising had a clear advantage in possession, and took more shots than Austin, but ultimately came in second place in the aerial game.
Despite the scoreline, it was only 1-0 at the break, and Coach Rick Schantz believes that the team wasn’t far away from conceding two before getting on the scoresheet.
With the score at 4-0, Edson Braafheid was dismissed for serious foul play. Rising made the most of the man advantage, adding two more goals in the final 15 minutes.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Diego Restrepo is Austin’s starting goalkeeper. Born in Venezuela but growing up in the United States, Restrepo has played professionally in both countries, including spells at América de Cali and the Tampa Bay Rowdies. His most successful season came in 2017 with San Antonio, when he received the USL Goalkeeper of the Year award. However, after injury hit his 2018 season, Restrepo joined expansion team Austin for its inaugural season. This year, Restrepo has recorded a 70.2% save success rate, while also keeping nine clean sheets and saving two penalties.
Sean McFarlane may not have the most impressive resume, but is certainly doing something right this season. The 26-year-old Jamaican defender currently leads Bold in assists (12), and also added an insurance goal to Austin’s tally on Wednesday night: his third of the season. Previously, McFarlane featured for Miami FC and the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, recording just two assists in a season-long spell with the latter. McFarlane has been capped at several age levels with the Reggae Boyz.
Ema Twumasi may not boast either the stats or the background of others on this list, but he represents a big threat tonight. Twumasi scored Austin’s first goal in midweek, which was his fourth of the season. The winger – currently on loan from FC Dallas – brings pace to burn, which he showed over several counter-attacks in the play-in game against Los Dos.
Austin-native Sonny Guadarrama typically plays just behind Bold’s striker. Guadarrama has only scored two goals all season, but one came against Rising in Texas back in April. Expect him to be one of the better chance creators, although he’s fairly low on the assist rankings, recording just three. Guadarrama has spent the majority of his career to date playing south of the border, featuring for the likes of Santos Laguna, Venados and Necaxa.
André Lima leads Austin in goals, and is capable of putting them away with his right (8), left (3) and head (3). This is Lima’s first season in the U.S., having previously played for numerous Brazilian clubs, including Fluminese, São Paulo and Botafogo (with whom he was top goalscorer in the 2007 Copa do Brasil). He also played in Germany with Hertha BSC.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Elvis isn’t dead, as Elvis Osmanovic will have the whistle for this match. This is the first time he’ll take charge of a match at Casino Arizona Field, although he did officiate Rising’s 4-1 victory over OKC Energy in June, sending off Joey Farrell in the process. This will also be the first USL playoff match for the referee from Florida.
Last week’s referee, Dejan Susak, will serve as the Fourth Official today.
From the Ashes Prediction: Rising to progress with ease.
For more in-depth discussion about tonight’s playoff, plus interviews with Coach Rick Schantz and captain Solo Asante, please listen to Owain Evans (@ojevans18) and Joe Lowery (@joeinCleats) at the O and Joe Show.