After a dramatic penalty shootout 4-2, Austin FC’s was victorious over the San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday, July 08 at PayPal Park stadium in San Jose, California. Austin FC has now managed to reach their first-ever U.S Open Cup semi-final. However, the win was overshadowed by a concerning injury to star striker Brandon Vazquez.
Bndon Vazquez, fresh off scoring a vital penalty to equalize the score to 1-1, was stretchered off the field with an apparent non-contact injury to his right knee in the 69th minute. The team is anxiously awaiting further medical scans, with head coach Nico Estévez describing the injury situation as “50-50” and hoping it’s not severe. Vazquez has been instrumental this season, contributing nine goals across all competitions and serving as a key offensive weapon for Austin FC.
Stuver’s Heroics Power Austin FC Past San Jose in Shootout
The match’s real hero was the Goalkeeper Brad Stuver who’s superb performance kept Austin FC alive throughout the 120 minutes of intense play. Brad Stuver made nine crucial saves, including a spectacular double save late in regular time where he first blocked a powerful shot from Cristian Arango and then dived to stop Mark-Anthony Kaye’s rebound effort. His splendid performance was pivotal in forcing the game into a penalty shootout. In the shootout, Stuver set the tone early by saving San Jose’s opening penalty and later denying DeJuan Jones’ attempt. His efforts energized the team and helped Austin convert all four of their spot-kicks, sealing the win.
Struggles, Comebacks and a Perfect Penalty Performance
Austin FC in the first 65 minutes of the match, found it difficult to score, however Brandon Vazquez’s penalty equalizer changed the momentum. After the lead in extra time by San Jose, Owen Wolff’s brilliant footwork earned Austin a second penalty, which was converted into a goal by Myrto Uzuni to send the match to a penalty shootout. Guilherme Biro made several errors in defense in the earlier stage of the match and his mistakes led to San Jose’s opening goal, Austin showed great resistance. Brad Stuver’s goalkeeping heroics kept them in the game, allowing the team to fight back and ultimately secure the victory. Austin FC is all set to Minnesota United on September 16 in the semifinal, relying on a quick recovery from Brandon Vazquez to mazimize their chances of a strong Cup run.
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Karan Singh Rathod is a dedicated sports journalist known for his sharp attention to detail and flair for storytelling. With over a year of experience in writing and editorial work, he blends thorough research with compelling narratives to deliver engaging sports content. A passionate follower of football and cricket, he starts his mornings with a newspaper to stay updated with sports, fashion, and current affairs. Outside of journalism, Karan enjoys traveling and discovering new destinations.
