On a balmy Sunday night at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, Austin FC snatched a crucial 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City in a match brimming with playoff implications and personal milestones. With 15,787 fans in attendance and the late-summer sun still shining, both clubs entered the contest with their postseason hopes hanging in the balance. For Austin, it was a chance to solidify their position in the top seven of Major League Soccer’s Western Conference. For Sporting, it was a desperate bid to keep their playoff dreams alive.
The match kicked off at 7 p.m. ET, streamed live on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass, and the stakes were clear. Austin FC, sitting seventh in the conference and just two points ahead of the Colorado Rapids, needed every point to avoid slipping into Wild Card territory or, worse, missing the playoffs altogether. Sporting Kansas City, languishing in 13th place and trailing the final Wild Card spot by eight points, faced a daunting climb just to stay in the conversation.
Early on, the hosts looked determined to seize the initiative. In the 16th minute, Sporting’s Shapi Suleymanov darted into the box, drawing a foul from Austin’s Nicolás Dubersarsky. Initially missed by referee Sergii Boiko, the infraction was quickly flagged by VAR official Ismail Elfath, prompting a second look and a penalty. Up stepped Dejan Joveljic, Sporting’s red-hot striker, who coolly side-footed his shot into the right corner. The goal was his 17th of the season, moving him into sole possession of third place in the MLS Golden Boot race and marking the most goals by a Kansas City newcomer since Preki’s 18 in 1996. Joveljic’s tally also pushed his league total to 38 since the start of 2024—second only to Lionel Messi’s 39, a testament to his consistency and finishing prowess.
Austin, however, refused to wilt under the early pressure. The visitors had already shown resilience in recent weeks, picking up points in six of their last seven matches, including a 3-1 win over San Jose Earthquakes just the previous Saturday. Their resolve was on display again as they pressed for an equalizer. In the 37th minute, Guilherme Biro lofted a searching ball from deep in midfield. Owen Wolff, Austin’s dynamic 20-year-old midfielder, deftly cushioned the pass on the edge of the area, slipped past two defenders, and rifled a low shot into the right corner. The goal was Wolff’s fifth in his last seven MLS games, and he’s now up to career highs of five goals and six assists this season. According to the club, Wolff had only eight career goal contributions before this year, making his recent run a major storyline for Austin’s playoff push.
The first half ended with both teams creating chances. Sporting left back Tim Leibold came close with a pair of long-range efforts, while Austin’s Osman Bukari forced a sharp save from John Pulskamp just before the break. At halftime, the scoreline was locked at 1-1, setting the stage for a tense second half.
Sporting Kansas City, under interim head coach Kerry Zavagnin, made two changes to their starting lineup due to international call-ups for Zorhan Bassong and Ian James. Academy product Jacob Bartlett and on-loan center back Alan Montes stepped in—Montes making his first start for the club. The reshuffled backline held firm for much of the second half, but Austin continued to probe for a breakthrough. Both sides traded half-chances, with Sporting’s Montes seeing a header saved and Joveljic unable to finish a low cross from Daniel Salloi.
The breakthrough finally came in the 82nd minute. Austin’s Owen Wolff, already on the scoresheet, whipped a dangerous corner to the near post. CJ Fodrey, a 21-year-old substitute forward in his third MLS season, rose above the crowd to flick a glancing header inside the far post. It was Fodrey’s first career MLS goal, and it couldn’t have come at a more crucial moment. The young striker had nearly scored earlier, his header in the 73rd minute rattling the post, but this time, he made no mistake. “It’s an unbelievable feeling to get my first goal and help the team win,” Fodrey said after the match, his joy evident.
Sporting Kansas City pushed forward desperately in search of an equalizer. Substitute Mason Toye intercepted a pass and set up a late flurry, with Joveljic and Erik Thommy both testing Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver. In the dying moments, Joveljic weaved through multiple defenders, only to see his shot repelled by Stuver’s quick reactions. Stuver finished with three saves, matching Pulskamp’s two at the other end. Both keepers now sit tied for second in MLS with 99 saves each this season, an indicator of their importance to their respective clubs.
The final whistle brought delight for Austin and frustration for Sporting. The visitors improved their record to 11-9-8, moving to 41 points and tying Los Angeles FC for fifth place in the Western Conference. With just over a month left in the regular season, Austin’s playoff destiny remains firmly in their hands. Sporting, meanwhile, dropped to 7-16-6 and saw their postseason hopes take another hit, having now lost five of their last six matches.
Discipline was a factor throughout the contest, with four yellow cards issued—two apiece for each side. Austin’s Mikkel Desler and Mateja Djordjevic were booked for unsporting behavior, while Sporting’s Jacob Bartlett and Austin’s Zan Kolmanic also saw yellow, the latter for time-wasting in the closing minutes.
Statistically, Sporting held a slight edge with 14 shots (four on goal) to Austin’s nine (also four on goal), but it was the visitors’ clinical finishing that made the difference. The match was officiated by Sergii Boiko, with assistance from Jeremy Hanson, Chris Wattam, and VAR Ismail Elfath, whose intervention was pivotal in awarding Sporting’s early penalty.
Looking ahead, Sporting Kansas City will try to regroup quickly as they travel to face longtime rivals Real Salt Lake next Saturday. Austin FC, meanwhile, will aim to build on this momentum as they jostle for playoff positioning in a crowded Western Conference field. With young stars like Wolff and Fodrey stepping up at just the right time, Austin’s faithful have reason to believe their club could be peaking as the postseason looms.
Sunday’s match may not have been a classic in terms of style, but it was rich in drama, individual milestones, and playoff intrigue. For Austin, the road win could prove decisive in the weeks ahead. For Sporting, the search for answers—and points—continues as the regular season races toward its climax.
