AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 17: Jon Bell #15 of Austin FC fights with Emmanuel Sabbi #11 of Vancouver FC for the ball in the first half during a match between Austin FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps at Q2 Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Daniel Jefferson/Getty Images)
Daniel Jefferson/Getty Images
Austin FC was going to need a near-miraculous sequence of events to happen to make the MLS playoffs going into Saturday.
But for that to be conceivable, the team needed to start winning games. And once again, that didn’t happen.
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The Verde and Black fell to the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 at Q2 Stadium, recording their third straight loss and falling to a brutal 0-3-4 in their last seven home matches.
Myrto Uzuni gave Austin FC a first-half lead after taking advantage of a Vancouver errant pass, but the visitors scored twice in the second half — including an incredible shot from Yadaly Diaby from the corner of the box to the far post — to earn the win.
Here are three key takeaways from the match as Austin FC (7-13-10, 31 points, 14th West) is eight points out of the ninth and final playoff spot with four games left entering Saturday’s contest at Kansas City.
Home struggles
Austin FC hasn’t won a league match at home since July 22.
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Tallying four points in seven matches has prevented the Verde and Black from making any kind of run the second half of the season into the playoff race. And it’s overshadowed the surprising road wins the club has produced in taking three points at Portland, Seattle and Vancouver.
“It’s an issue for us and we can’t put our finger on it,” Austin FC interim coach Davy Arnaud said. “In this league it’s very difficult to get to where you want to be if you can’t win at home.”
Even turning two of the draws into wins would have the Verde and Black with a chance for the postseason going into their final four contests. Instead, the club is going to have to win all four and hope for every result it needs around the rest of the league to occur.
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“We’re going to keep fighting until the standings tell us that it’s not available,” Arnaud said.
Shortcomings all around
Arnaud lamented Austin FC’s play in the first 45 minutes, even though it entered halftime with a lead. The Verde and Black were on their heels, only had 34% possession and Uzuni’s goal was the team’s only shot.
“We weren’t sharp enough to give the forwards opportunities,” he said.
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And for the second straight game, Austin FC gave up a goal early in the second half, leaving Ryan Gauld wide open in the box for an uncontested header on a cross.
“You can’t concede a minute into the second half,” Arnaud said. “We didn’t do a good job of defending in that moment.”
Outside of a Brandon Vazquez header on a corner kick, the Verde and Black didn’t create any notable scoring chances the final 45 minutes. They produced a paltry 0.19 expected goals stat, according to the Apple TV broadcast, which allowed Diaby’s phenomenal goal to be the difference.
“If he hits that shot 100 times, I don’t know how many times he makes it,” Arnaud said. “It was a great shot.”
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Bottom line
In a brutal three-game stretch against Nashville, LAFC and Vancouver, where it had to have at least three points, Austin FC came away with none.
The club always had an uphill battle after its disastrous first half of the season, but one would expect it wouldn’t essentially be eliminated from the playoffs with four games left, especially in a league where 60% of the teams make the postseason.
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But a poor home form in August and September seems to have left the Verde and Black looking ahead to 2027 in mid-October.
AUSTIN, TEXAS – OCTOBER 17: Emmanuel Sabbi #11 of Vancouver FC fights for possession of the ball with Joseph Rosales #30 of Austin FC in the first half during a match between Austin FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps at Q2 Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Daniel Jefferson/Getty Images)
Daniel Jefferson/Getty Images