(Photo credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images)

Austin FC will try to carry momentum from a rare road victory when they host the surging Philadelphia Union on Saturday in an interconference clash between sides with identical records through their first 20 games.

The Verde (5-10-5, 20 points) head home after a solid 2-1 win in Seattle on Wednesday. Austin received goals from Facundo Torres and Guilherme Biro and snapped a three-game losing streak in MLS competition despite playing without starters Owen Wolff, Myrto Uzuni and Christian Ramirez, all of whom did not make the trip.

It was Austin's first road win of the season in 11 tries (seven losses, three draws) and snapped a losing stretch away from home that had extended to 13 matches dating back to a 2-1 win at Sporting Kansas City on Sept. 7, 2025.

'You saw a group of guys (in the win over Seattle) that bought into what we're trying to do,' Austin interim coach Davy Arnaud said. 'They stuck to it and they were brave, and they executed the things that we've been trying to do, and they did it at a really good level.'

Austin also rested stalwart goalkeeper Brad Stuver for the first time in an MLS game since 2022. In the net in his stead was Damian Las, who stopped six shots in his debut for the team.

The Verde begin the weekend in 14th place in the Western Conference, seven points and five spots below the playoff line with 14 matches left in the regular season.

The Union (5-10-5, 20 points) are in 13th place in the East after a 2-2 draw at home with Inter Miami on Wednesday. The draw ended Philadelphia's four-game winning streak but extended its unbeaten stretch to five matches, all since its return from the World Cup break.

Indiana Vassilev and Neil Pierre scored for the Union against Miami, with Pierre's goal his third in his team's past five outings.

'Nothing's changed because we're five games into the (restart) now as far as the way that we have to approach each week and taking it game to game,' Union coach Ryan Richter said Friday. 'Let's not get ahead of ourselves as far as like, 'Are we a good team?' Let's focus on Austin and focus on putting a good performance together on the back of (the tie with Miami).'

Milan Iloski's 10 goals lead the team in the category while Cavan Sullivan paces the Union with seven assists. Sullivan was issued a red card near the end of the Miami game but had it rescinded by the league and is eligible to play Saturday.

--Field Level Media