Austin FC impressive as it knocks off Pumas UNAM in Leagues Cup opener

Life suddenly got very interesting Friday night for Austin FC.

With its 3-2 victory over Pumas UNAM in the Leagues Cup opener at Q2 Stadium — arguably its biggest win since it knocked off Dallas in the 2022 Western Conference semifinals — Austin FC signaled the potential to make a run in the competition. But more important than the final result over one of the better clubs in Liga MX was the manner in which the Verde & Black accomplished it.

Austin FC played the final 55 minutes of the match down a man after midfielder Osman Bukari was ejected for receiving a second yellow card, and in that same stretch it scored twice, with backup goalie Stefan Cleveland also blocking a penalty in second-half stoppage time.

The Verde & Black’s general quality of play never dipped in the contest — in which it never trailed — and the club received phenomenal performances from multiple players. Alex Ring, Gyasi Zardes and Sebastián Driussi scored, and it was the club's second-highest offensive output of the season.

Here are some thoughts from the match as Austin FC will try to clinch a spot in the knockout round with a draw or win vs. FC Monterrey on Tuesday:

Man of the match: Alex Ring

Every now and then, Ring will flash why he spent 18 months at the peak of his career playing in the top division in Germany, and Friday was one of those times.

His goal in the eighth minute was perfect — a shot from more than 20 yards out on the ground that slipped just inside the far post — and his assist on a cross to Driussi on the team’s third goal early in the second half was just as good. He also was clutch defensively as the club played with 10 men.

An interesting note is that Ring wore the captain’s armband in the game even with Driussi on the field. Whether he continues to do so the rest of the season will be something to watch, but if he returns to being captain as he was in the club’s first two years, it shouldn’t be a major adjustment for anyone with his leadership capabilities.

Pereira making the case for a large contract

As he has been in every game since returning from Copa America, midfielder Dani Pereira was exceptional.

Though Zardes had a nice finish for the second goal, Pereira made it happen by making a steal and setting him up with a shrewd pass. If he keeps up this high level of play, it will mean good things for the club the rest of the season, but it also might mean his days in town could be numbered.

Austin FC has control of Pereira, who's 24, for another year with a club option in his contract, which it will obviously exercise in the offseason. But whether a team from Europe or South America can persuade the Verde & Black to sell him with a big offer over the winter will be intriguing.

Regardless of whether it’s this winter or the next, Pereira will receive a significant contract from someone.

Austin FC players looked motivated

Both Jon Gallagher, who started in the midfield on the wing for the first time since early 2022, and Matt Hedges said after the match that the team was energized by facing a new opponent. Each noted that a game vs. another MLS team would have felt like just another league game, so they appreciated the opportunity to play a club from another country with players they hadn’t competed against before.

That attitude showed throughout the team, with Austin FC being scrappy and playing sound, smart soccer.

Stefan Cleveland steps up

This was the first time Cleveland, who signed in the offseason as a free agent after spending four years in Seattle, stepped on the field for Austin FC. His save of Guillermo Martinez’s penalty attempt was a brilliant work of goalkeeping in which he guessed correctly to his right and stopped a shot that was low and relatively close to the post.

Brad Stuver received a night off for the first time in more than 27 months, and while he isn’t in danger of losing his spot as the team’s starting goalie, fans should feel good knowing the club has a capable backup.

(In other goalkeeping notes, this was Cleveland’s first appearance since July 12, 2023, and the first time since May 14, 2022, that someone other than Stuver had played goalie for Austin FC. Andrew Tarbell suited up on that date vs. Real Salt Lake while Stuver recovered from an injury.)

Bottom line: Sign of things to come?

The impressiveness of a team winning a match in which it played the majority of the contest down a man and without one of its best players in Bukari can’t be overstated. And the fact that it came against one of the bigger clubs in Mexico adds to the grandeur.

It’s only one result, which is something you can’t make too much out of in soccer, and Austin FC still isn’t guaranteed a spot in the knockout round, but this has the potential to give it some momentum as it heads into the final three months of the MLS season.

More: Austin FC player ratings vs. Pumas UNAM

If the Verde & Black can come close to duplicating this performance Tuesday vs. Monterrey or just record a draw that assures they advance in the competition, it will be a major boost to the club.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin FC impressive as it knocks off Pumas UNAM in Leagues Cup opener