Austin FC seek to continue their strong play and record their fifth victory in six matches when they visit the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night.
During the five-game stretch, Austin FC have won their past two outings by shutout and have scored nine goals.
Austin (4-3-3, 15 points) is winning with a team-first style that is pleasing to coach Josh Wolff.
“There is a humbleness inside of our group,” Wolff said. “We do things in a collective manner. We may not have all the superstars and didn’t grab all the (elite) talent in the offseason. But we grabbed talent and character and personality.
“There are small margins in this league. The wins and losses are finite actions. The more positive ones, the more chances you have to win.”
Austin is coming off a 2-0 home victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy last weekend. Diego Rubio and Jader Obrian scored the goals.
Rubio leads Austin with three goals. The nine-year veteran has 56 MLS goals and is in his first season with Austin after three with Sporting Kansas City and five with the Colorado Rapids.
“I play the game. I try to do everything 100 percent,” Rubio said. “Sometimes, I get criticized for that. But everything is 100 percent on the field.”
Vancouver (5-2-2, 17 points) also is playing well and is 3-1-1 over its past five matches.
The Whitecaps are led by star forward Brian White (five goals), who had the lone tally in last weekend’s 1-1 road tie against the New York Red Bulls.
The goal was White’s 44th across all competitions to set a Vancouver record. Camilo Sanvezzo (43 from 2011-13) held the old mark.
White has 36 goals for Vancouver in MLS matches. He tallied a career-best 15 last season and is in his prime at age 28.
“I think I’ve always been confident how I can play and how I can perform,” White said. “It’s just a matter of being fit, being healthy and being in a good place mentally.
“I think I’m at that spot, so hopefully I can continue to work hard for the team and produce goals and assists and good performances.”
The Whitecaps are 4-1-1 all-time against Austin and expect to have a huge crowd supporting them Saturday for the 50th-anniversary celebration match of soccer in Vancouver.
The original Whitecaps were part of the North American Soccer League in 1974 and there were other editions of Vancouver teams prior to the current Whitecaps beginning MLS play in 2011.
–Field Level Media
