Brad Stuver, Austin FC seek success vs. struggling D.C. United

Brad Stuver and Austin FC will try to come down off the high of the 2025 MLS All-Star Game played in their home stadium when they return to league action at D.C. United on Saturday night.

Stuver earned the start in goal for the MLS team against LIGA MX on Wednesday and made two saves in his 34 minutes to help MLS to a 3-1 win.

His thunderous welcome from the crowd was expected because he has been one of the few constants in Austin's first 4 1/2 seasons in the league.

"I'm fortunate enough to have that every single gameday," Stuver said of the reception, as reported by Verde All Day. "Every game day feels just as special as the first time, like it doesn't wear off, and I'm just so grateful and just so thankful to be here in Austin and representing. I can't thank the fans enough for supporting me through everything."

Stuver has kept eight clean sheets in league play, nearly every one of them crucial for a Verde side that has scored only 17 times and lost leading scorer Brandon Vazquez for the season to a torn ACL.

Despite those struggles, Austin (8-8-6, 30 points) enters the weekend in eighth place in the Western Conference. That's a far better position than D.C. United (4-13-7, 19 points), who already are focused on building toward next season.

Despite the return from mild injury and seventh league goal from 2024 MLS Golden Boot winner Christian Benteke, D.C. United have lost three matches in a row under interim manager Kevin Flanagan.

The club fired Troy Lesesne as manager on July 10 following a 5-2 loss at Nashville in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals the previous day. D.C. will see Swiss manager Rene Weiler take over once he completes his visa process.

In the meantime, Flanagan is trying to keep morale as high as possible amid a group that sits second from bottom in the East and is winless in its last seven MLS matches.

"There's a locker room full of competitors here, and the belief is there," Flanagan said. "Just these things have to turn into results in order for any movement in a positive direction."

--Field Level Media