Austin FC’s playoff hopes officially evaporated Wednesday night after a tough 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake at Q2 Stadium. The Verde and Black are out of the MLS playoff race. Done. Finito.
The Heartbreak at Q2
Man, what a gut punch that game must’ve been for Austin FC fans. Jorge Alastuey, making a name for himself, got his first career goal early in the second half with a brilliant strike, putting Austin FC up 1-0. You’re thinking, “Okay, this is it, they’re going to fight for it!” But then, just nine minutes later, RSL flipped the script entirely. Saba Lobjanidze curled one into the box, and then Morgan Guilavogui finished a swift counterattack. Just like that, 2-1, and Austin FC couldn’t find an answer. Brutal.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
It wasn’t just that single game, though. With only two games left on their schedule, Austin FC now sits at 8-14-10, giving them 34 points. The math is simple, and it’s ugly: the absolute maximum they can hit is 40 points. That’s two points shy of the current ninth-place team in the Western Conference, Colorado. They are officially watching the rest of the season from the sidelines. This isn’t a new feeling for the Verde and Black either. This elimination marks the third time in the last four years they’ll miss the postseason. And get this: they haven’t won a single postseason game since the 2022 Western Conference semifinals. That’s a long time to be waiting for a playoff win. Remember back in August, when Austin FC was here in Seattle, dribbling the ball at Lumen Field against our Sounders? That feels like a world away now, a game in a season that just didn’t go their way.
So, with the regular season winding down and two games still on the docket, Austin FC can start planning for the 2027 MLS sprint season. What changes come next? Who knows, but for Austin FC, the focus has to be on figuring out how to break this cycle and get back into contention.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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