Austin FC vs. Real Salt Lake Prediction, Preview, and Odds - 10/2/21

Austin FC vs Real Salt Lake

Austin FC took it on the chin Wednesday evening on the road when losing 3-0 to the Colorado Rapids. Austin had only 44% possession during the entire match and took eight shots but only four were on target. The first-year MLS club has lost six of the last seven matches. Austin will play without Ulises Segura, Ben Sweat, Aaron Schoenfeld, Danny Hoesen and Matt Besler

Real Salt Lake defeated LA Galaxy at home 2-1 on Wednesday. Real Salt Lake opened the scoring in the 45th minute with a goal by Damir Kreilach, but LA scored an equaliser in the 76th minute. However, Anderson Julio scored the winner for Real Salt Lake in stoppage time in the 95th minute to give RSL the much-needed three points. Real Salt Lake was coming off an embarrassing 6-1 to Portland. Real Salt Lake will play with out Zack Farnsworth and Marcelo Silva, while Bobby Wood is questionable

Austin Giving Up too much on the backline

Austin is last or 13th in the MLS Western Conference with a record of 6-4-17, 22 points and a -16 goal difference. Austin trails its closest competitor, the Houston Dynamo by 5 points. The first year MLS club has scored only 31 goals and it's back line and goalkeepers have allowed 41 goals. Austin has been held scoreless in 13 of its 27 matches this season.

Over their most recent 5 matches played, Austin has won one and lost five and has been outscored 12- 6. During that stretch, Austin has been held scoreless on two occasions. Austin's leading scorer is Diego Fagundez with six goals and Cecilio Dominguez has scored five. Dominguez is tied with Sebastian Driussi and Jared Stroud for the lead in assists with three each. Goalkeeper Brad Stuver has appeared in 26 of Austin's 27 matches allowing 40 goals but Andrew Tarbell started Austin’s most recent match and allowed three goals in his only appearance of the season.

RSL inching up Conference Standings

Following its victory on Wednesday, Real Salt Lake moved into fifth place in the MLS Western Conference standings with a record of 11-6-10, 39 points and a +2 goal difference. With the victory Real Salt Lake moved ahead of LA Galaxy and into fifth. This season, Real Salt Lake has scored 44 goals and allowed 42. The top seven clubs qualify for the postseason.

Over the last five matches played in the MLS, Real Salt Lake has three victories and 2 losses. RSL has been outscored by its opponents 12-10 during that stretch of 5 matches but that is due to giving up six goals to Portland in a 6-1 loss. The leading goal scorer for Real Salt Lake is Damir Kreilach with 12, while Anderson Julio, Albert Rusnak and Rubio Rubin have each scored seven goals. Aaron Herrera has eight assists to lead the club. Goalkeeper David Ochoa has seen the most action for Real Salt Lake. Ochoa has appeared in 18 matches and allowed 27 goals.

Pick: Austin FC +137

Austin FC has only 6 victories in its 27 matches this season during its inaugural campaign but four of the six victories have been on its home pitch. Real Salt Lake defeated Austin 1-0 but the match was played on RSL’s home pitch. Real Salt Lake has struggled on the road this season, losing six of the last seven on the road. Overall this season, Real Salt Lake has four wins, eight losses and one draw away from home. Real Salt Lake’s back line has allowed 42 goals this season with 29 of the 42 scored by opponents while RSL was on the road.

Total: Over

The 2.5 goals per match threshold has been exceeded in 8 of Austin’s last 9 matches and in eight of Real Salt Lake’s last nine matches. The two played to a 1-0 RSL victory the first time out but both clubs have played in high scoring matches in nearly every fixture since. Austin has given up 43 goals this season and Real Salt Lake is allowed to 42