AUSTIN, TEXAS – AUGUST 13: Myrto Uzuni #10 of Austin FC celebrates with his teammates after scoring his first goal during the Leagues Cup Phase One match between Austin FC and Club America at Q2 Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Omar Vega/Getty Images
One could credit Austin FC‘s new purple uniforms Thursday — no, that wasn’t TCU or Kansas State kicking the ball around at Q2 Stadium — but the Verde and Black have had some of their best performances this season in Leagues Cup.
Playing well for the third straight match in the competition, the Verde and Black won a shootout 1-1 (6-5) over Liga MX power Club América at Q2 Stadium to advance to the knockout stage.
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After the teams combined for 11 straight successful shootout attempts, Austin FC goalie Brad Stuver dove to his right and saved Cristian Borja’s take to give the Verde and Black two points from the match and eight points from phase one. (Winners of shootouts get two points; losers get one point.)
Austin FC finished second out of the 18 MLS teams in the standings, taking the tiebreaker over the Columbus Crew on goal differential. It’ll play a quarterfinal against Liga MX side Toluca later in the month at a site to be determined.
Club America took a lead early in the second half when Kevin Alvarez’s cross deflected off Jon Gallagher. Austin FC tied the match on Myrto Uzuni‘s brilliant curling shot just inside the box in the 67th minute.
Here are four key takeaways from the match as Austin FC has a quick turnaround in its return to MLS play when it hosts Dallas Sunday.
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AUSTIN, TEXAS – AUGUST 13: Oleksandr Svatok #5 of Austin FC is marked by Alejandro Cárdenas Alonso #189 of Club America during the Leagues Cup Phase One match between Austin FC and Club America at Q2 Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
Omar Vega/Getty Images
Leagues Cup brings out the best in Austin FC
In an electric atmosphere that six-year season-ticket holder Mark Cram called “playoffs second season levels,” Austin FC went toe to toe with arguably the biggest club in North America and interim coach Davy Arnaud noted the Verde and Black fans’ energy was inspiring to his squad.
Playing in front of a crowd that from the press box seemed to slightly favor Club América in terms of numbers, the Verde and Black impressively executed a conservative game plan of sitting back in the first half, then changed to an attacking approach after falling behind.
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“In these types of games, you have to show you can win games in different ways,” Arnaud said. “You have to have big players make big plays like Myrto did. I’m so happy for the players. … Not everyone sees what these guys do every day and the work they put in.”
The team Austin FC has been in Leagues Cup doesn’t resemble the one that’s sitting in 14th place in the MLS Western Conference. It even looks completely different than the one that looked subpar in a 1-0 loss to Colorado just two weeks ago.
Arnaud deserves credit for that, but a different competition brought a new mindset.
“What this has done for us is given us a reset. Everyone starts at zero,” he said. “These guys have belief and see that they can win games. … That’s a powerful thing.”
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AUSTIN, TEXAS – AUGUST 13: Jorge Alastuey #24 of Austin FC leaps in to the arms of Brad Stuver #1 after Stuver made the match-winning save on the final penalty kick attempted by Club América during the Leagues Cup Phase One match at Q2 Stadium on August 13, 2026 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Scott Wachter – Leagues Cup/MLS via Getty Images)
Scott Wachter – Leagues Cup/MLS via Getty Images
Davy Arnaud’s coaching stock is soaring
Gallagher noted there’s a different vibe in the locker room, and not only from winning. He praised Arnaud for setting a standard of what it means to be a professional.
“Guys knew that they couldn’t put a foot wrong and kind of had to straighten up,” said Gallagher, who like Arnaud has been with the club all six seasons. “That’s maybe somewhere we’ve been lacking over the last few years, is hard leadership. … Credit to him; it’s been tough, but the guys have bought in. And we’re kind of going with the guys that want to keep buying in.”
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Arnaud is in a strange spot professionally. He’s said all the right things about wanting to stay with the club when Jim Curtin takes over in the offseason. But the truth is he’s going to receive a lot of attention from MLS clubs in need of a new coach if the Verde and Black keep up their current level of play; Austin FC players have shown quick adaptation to his preferred 5-2-3 formation.
“I (coach) because you can’t play anymore and the locker room is a special place,” said Arnaud, who had a 14-year career in MLS as a player. “… This is special to be a part of when you’re around people who are committed to the same thing.”
Myrto Uzuni shines in Leagues Cup
Uzuni has four goals and an assist in Leagues Cup and is showing why the club paid more than $12 million for his transfer before the 2025 season. Three of his four goals have been worthy of some of the better leagues in Europe, including Thursday’s curler to the far side netting.
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“The first thing I think about Myrto tonight is the work he does,” Arnaud said. “His desire to win is unmatched.”
Uzuni’s play shouldn’t overshadow defender Guilherme Biro, who was arguably Austin FC’s best player on the field.
“Biro was fantastic,” Arnaud said.
Back to MLS play
The schedule didn’t do Austin FC any favors jumping back into league play. It has three games in seven days starting Sunday, including a midweek contest at Seattle. Arnaud seems to have balanced the roster well, but several players with tired legs will be playing significant minutes next week.
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“We knew this stretch was not going to be easy,” he said. “… We have guys who are fresh and ready to go. We need to try as much as we can to capture this momentum. We have more to do and we have to have that mindset.”