Austin FC 2022: The tactics that have Austin challenging at the top of the MLS – tactical analysis

Austin finished the 2021 MLS season, their inaugural campaign in the league, with 31 points, 35 goals scored and 56 goals conceded. They finished 12th out of 13 in the Western Conference. This season, after 13 matches, they sit second from the top having scored 27 goals, just eight short of last season’s total, with 21 games still to play.

Coached by American Josh Wolff, who has previously worked under former EFL and Bundesliga player Gregg Berhalter as an assistant with the USMNT and Colombus Crew, Austin have a distinct, possession-based style of play.

This analysis will be presented in the form of a scout report focusing on Austin’s previous three matches versus Orlando City, LAFC and Real Salt Lake. In this tactical analysis, we analyze the key tactics behind Austin’s build-up play and the intricacies involved in their forward play to create space for Sebastian Driussi.

Statistical analysis

The above image shows Austin’s typical 4-2-3-1 set-up with the players they have used most in recent matches.

In their 13 league games this season, Austin have scored 27 goals. As we will analyse in a later section on their forwards’ movement, a large part of Austin’s goal-scoring success this season is down to the form of their #7 Sebastian Driussi.