Austin FC opens key stretch with visit to Real Salt Lake

Austin FC has plenty at stake over the next week, starting with a visit to Real Salt Lake on Saturday in a key late-season Western Conference match in Sandy, Utah.

Austin FC might take minutes restrictions into account with the U.S. Open Cup final set for Wednesday at home against Nashville SC. But there is plenty on the line Saturday before Austin looks to capture its first trophy in its fifth season.

Austin (12-10-8, 44 points) sits sixth in the West standings, one point shy of the Seattle Sounders and six points behind Los Angeles FC for fourth place and the right to host a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

The Verde can clinch a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2022 with a win on Saturday and could also qualify with a handful of other scenarios.

Austin's most recent match was a 2-1 win at home over Seattle on Sunday when Myrto Uzuni scored six minutes into second-half stoppage time. Diego Rubio also found the net in the victory while Brad Stuver made five saves - two of them in the final minutes - to allow Austin to earn points for the eighth time in its past 10 matches (5-2-3).

"We keep going until the final whistle, because it's worth it," Austin coach Nico Estevez said. "Right now, we're in this moment where we're having that part of luck, but also have that belief that (gives) us the composure and poise in those late minutes and in our final actions."

Real Salt Lake (10-16-4, 34 points) begin the weekend in 12th place in the West and three points beneath the playoff line with four games to play. RSL just dropped consecutive matches to LAFC, both by 4-1 decisions.

Brayan Vera scored RSL's lone goal against LAFC on Sunday, with the setback endangering the club's playoff hopes. RSL has dropped five of its past six matches.

"This league is a streaky league," RSL coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "We have to find ways to get maximum points these next few games. We have to almost win out. We can talk about the tactics to get here, but we just have to make plays. There's no magic pill here."

The teams played to a 1-1 draw at Austin on May 28.

--Field Level Media