Austin FC will seek its second victory over a LIGA MX club when it welcomes CF Monterrey on Tuesday to Q2 Stadium in Austin for the 2024 Leagues Cup.
The team from the Texas capital defeated Pumas UNAM, 3-2, in the opening match of the West 1 group, ending a three-match winless streak for the MLS side and a four-match unbeaten streak for the historic club from Mexico City.
Stefan Cleveland stopped a penalty attempt in the fourth minute of stoppage time to seal the three points and break many of the predictions on both sides of the border. Now the Verde will look to seal a trip to the knockout round against another tough opponent.
“The game against Pumas wasn't a fluke,” said Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff. “We want to go after Monterey in a similar manner that we did Pumas. We want to have an awareness of who they are, but we're out there to compete. We're at home. We know any kind of result — whether it's win in regulation, win in a shootout or lose in a shootout — puts us into the next phase.”
Despite getting the early lead, Austin FC was reduced to 10 players in the 34th minute as Osman Bukari was sent off following a second yellow. Signed as a Designated Player in late May, Bukari will not be available due to suspension.
Mikkel Desler, another of the club’s incoming signings, made his second appearance and first in the starting lineup. The Danish defender got his first taste of the MLS-LIGA MX rivalry and is excited about getting back on the field for another match.
“We know it's a quality team and they have some quality players,” said Desler. “It's a pretty similar challenge as Pumas was. Maybe this is probably an even better team but we will see tomorrow. I think we are up for the challenge.”
CF Monterrey was the Mexican team that went the farthest in the 2023 Leagues Cup and the only to reach the semifinals. They eliminated the likes of FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami CF in the CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier this year, bowing out defending MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew on both legs of the semifinals.
“We will be in a competition again, one that we have already played in and we have played a great role in the previous one,” said Monterrey head coach Fernando Ortiz. “We will insist again on wanting to win the cup, but we have to take it one game at a time and Tuesday will be a difficult match against a great rival.”
Rayados arrive on a run of three wins in four games to start the Apertura 2024 season. Former LIGA MX Golden Boot winner German Berterame leads an offense that includes former MLS man Brandon Vazquez, and ex-La Liga midfielder Sergio Canales — who made his debut with the club in last year’s Leagues Cup.
The Monterrey club also features several active and former players on the Mexican men’s national team including Hector Moreno, Jesus Corona and Victor Guzman.
“I saw very dynamic players,” said Guzman of his observations of Austin FC against Pumas UNAM. “In general, I saw a very compact team to defend, to attack, very organized, and we have to be very, very careful with their players who in the attack.”
