Austin FC hosts Houston Dynamo at Q2 Stadium in the Round of 16 of the US Open Cup. This in-state rivalry comes at the ideal time for both clubs. Austin is seeking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in franchise history and is looking to get back on track after an inconsistent stretch in MLS. In the meantime, Dynamo is soaring for the season, riding good fortune, a superior midfielder, and an honest opportunity to stay in title contention.
What's on the line?
The winning team qualifies for the quarterfinals of the US Open Cup and keeps itself in the running for qualification into the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup. For Austin FC, it is a historic opportunity. A win would be the club's first time into this round since its creation. The tournament also holds the promise of a faster path to a grand trophy, a goal the club has been chasing since its entry into MLS.
Dynamo is also motivated. They were US Open Cup champions back in 2018 and want to do it again this time around. In this year's version, Houston beat Phoenix Rising FC 4-1 in extra time on the road with midfielder Jack McGlynn having a goal to contribute to the win. He was also impressive in last's Texas Derby match against Dallas by scoring the second goal in a 2-0 victory.
Current form
Austin FC heads into the match following a scoreless draw with Vancouver Whitecaps, also at Q2 Stadium. The team hasn’t won a regular-season match since late April, when they lost to this same Houston side. Since then, they’ve picked up three draws and two losses in MLS play. They currently sit in ninth place in the Western Conference with 18 points and a 5-6-3 record.
Poor performance makes this US Open Cup game all the more crucial. Austin defeated El Paso Locomotive FC 3-2 in the last round. The team was behind by two goals at halftime but made a turnaround in the second half with two goals from Brandon Vázquez and one from Myrto Uzuni. Vázquez was the man of the match, scoring two goals and making an assist, and he's once again likely to spearhead the attack.
Houston, however, is another story. They had won their previous three games, including against Dallas. And recent form has provided even better statistics: they have not allowed a goal in their previous two games and have six clean sheets for the whole season. Aside from McGlynn, among the stops that have made a significant difference is goalkeeper Jonathan Bond, who has pulled off clutch saves. He delivered three clutch saves himself just against Dallas.
Head-to-head and rivalry
Austin vs. Houston is new but already meaningful. In 12 matches, seven have gone to Austin. But at present, Dynamo has the edge with two victories in the previous two games. In April at Shell Energy Stadium, Houston took 2-0 on goals by Ponce and Lingr. Lingr was the fourth team player in history to score within his first two games. Houston won 1-0 on Carrasquilla's goal during their last meeting at Q2 Stadium last September 2024.
That win was Dynamo's inaugural away victory over Austin and helped them break a new club record with eight away victories in a single season. It also proved that the Orange are not afraid to make the trip to Austin. For the Verde & Black, taking back control on home soil is priority number one.