Austin FC collected its second consecutive victory over a LIGA MX team with a 2-0 victory against CF Monterrey, sealing a trip to the Round of 32 of the Leagues Cup as the first place team in its group.
“We beat two of the very best in Mexico,” said Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff. “It's two games. We have another opponent next week. It's not anything to get carried away about. We know where we're at in the league. We want to continue to compete and push in that.
“It's extremely important as well,” Wolff continued. “We'll enjoy tonight. We'll get to work in a couple days, and we'll focus on the next opponent when we find out who it is.”
The two clubs, separated by less than 400 miles and the U.S.-Mexico border, met for their first ever encounter in the second match of the West 1 group. The two tested each other sparingly until Austin took the lead and saw out the victory in the second half.
Johan Rojas struck with venom in the 15th, testing Brad Stuver from distance but the Austin FC goalkeeper pushed the ball over his goal with his right hand as chants of “Stuuuuuuuuu!” rung from the fans behind the goal.
Sebastián Driussi had a shot inside the box in the 20th but couldn’t get the cleanest hit on it with Hector Moreno doing his best to get in the way, allowing Monterrey goalkeeper Esteban Andrada to pick up the attempt.
Sergio Canales had a look from distance in the 32nd minute but Brad Stuver was there for the save. German Berterame misstruck the rebound to send it out of bounds in a scary moment for Austin fans.
Jon Gallagher struck a menacing ball that was headed for the inside of the left post in the 33th minute but Andrada got his right hand to push it away from his goal.
Brandon Vázquez stripped Dani Pereira to strike a dangerous ball from outside the box in the 52nd minute, going wide of the crossbar just a few rows up in the stands.
“Ultimately, execution, execution inside our penalty box and execution inside the opposition's penalty box,” Wolff reiterated. “These things decide games. And we're not getting carried away. We don't get too bummed out and deterred as well when it goes the other way.”
Jáder Obrian broke through with the opening goal in the 61th, finding the end of a Jon Gallagher pass at the right post.
Dani Pereira broke off into open space for a one-on-one opportunity in the 88th as he struck the back of the net in front of the wall of supporters. Owen Wolff worked the ball in midfield, evading three Monterrey players before, before passing the through ball to his Verde teammate.
Maxi Meza had a menacing strike from inside the penalty arc in the 88th but Stuver punched the ball away from his goal.
“It’s a defeat, obviously, nobody likes to lose,” said Monterrey head coach Fernando Ortiz. “When you are a big part of the match, protagonist, and the situations you create aren’t converted, and the slightest chances the rival converts, anemically, that does play a different role against the players.”
Monterrey and Pumas UNAM will face off on Sunday at Q2 Stadium for the other knockout berth in the group. The result sealed Austin’s first trip to the knockout round in the tournament.
