Looking at this extraordinary match-up between Austin FC and New York City FC, we can already sense a tropical storm brewing, the kind that keeps you on the edge of your seats, folks!
New York City FC, under the guardianship of their goalie Matthew Freese, boasts of an impressive rating of 7.8. The man seems more like a brick wall than a goalkeeper with his striking 24 saves. Meanwhile, Austin FC’s goalie, Brad Stuver, holds a rating of 6.6, which in comparison I must say, makes him look like a bit of a damp squib with just 5 saves, no offense, Brad.
Getting into the thick of things with the players, New York City FC has Santiago Rodriguez and Agustin Ojeda, both with solid goal records. Yet, let's not ignore the elephant in the room, the missing Malachi Jones, their crème de la crème. Feel the chill of that injury blow, folks! It's like a surprise winter season in July.
Nosing onto the Austin FC side, Leo Väisänen and Brendan Hines-Ike have been quite the busy bees, managing to keep their heads above water with their decent ratings. But the heart aches as we acknowledge Diego Rubio's absence due to injury. Oh, the humanity!
Taking into consideration their Regular Season Records, New York City FC's relatively better success rate and Austin FC's recent struggles on the field make this match-up tantalizing. Staring at the recent results, it seems Austin FC might be needing a bit more than just a four-leaf clover to pull this one off.
Though Austin's payout seems tempting, I would advise staking your bets with New York City FC. Despite that whopping missing player and Austin's potential underdog charm, New York City seems more poised to be victorious.
Albert’s Prediction: New York City FC by 1