Soccer <\/p>\n
When it comes to atmosphere and crowd support, few places in Major League Soccer rival Austin FC<\/a>\u2019s Q2 Stadium.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n On Wednesday night, the Verde & Black\u2019s home ground promises to be rocking like never before when Nashville SC<\/a> visit for the 2025 US Open Cup<\/a> final (8 pm ET | Paramount+, CBS Sports Network).<\/p>\n “This moment belongs to the fans,” Austin captain Ilie S\u00e1nchez<\/a> told reporters ahead of the club\u2019s first-ever title game.<\/p>\n “\u2026 They\u2019ve been here since day one to build everything that we\u2019re all enjoying. So it\u2019s their moment to enjoy a final at home and show what they\u2019ve been showing all these years, this season as well.<\/p>\n “\u2026 It\u2019s their moment, it\u2019s their game. And we\u2019re going to need them from the first minute.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The Verde & Black, who are on the verge of returning to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, have made forward progress in head coach Nico Est\u00e9vez’s first season.<\/p>\n The Spaniard’s squad is now 90 minutes, plus potentially extra time and penalty kicks, away from bringing Austin to unprecedented heights.<\/p>\n “To have the opportunity to bring a first trophy to the club, it means a lot \u2013 not only to the club but the fanbase, the players, the staff,” Est\u00e9vez said.<\/p>\n “Everyone around the team, everyone in the community, everyone who follows the team. I know in this particular case, the city of Austin is behind the team. It would mean a lot.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n La historia nos espera. pic.twitter.com\/0BKHLVEDbg<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Austin FC (@AustinFC) September 30, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Coincidentally, Nashville are also searching for their first piece of silverware. The Coyotes fell narrowly short two seasons ago, dropping a heartbreaking penalty-kick shootout to Lionel Messi<\/a> and Inter Miami CF<\/a> in the Leagues Cup<\/a> 2023 final.<\/p>\n Hany Mukhtar<\/a> started that final at GEODIS Park and knows what will be at stake Wednesday: a first-ever trophy, prize money and a spot in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup<\/a>.<\/p>\n “We need to believe. And you can feel that belief in the club, and us players have that belief to win a trophy,” Mukhtar said.<\/p>\n “That\u2019s what it\u2019s about in soccer, to win a trophy. Now we are so close, and we have to grab it.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2014 Nashville SC (@NashvilleSC) September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Mukhtar, the 2022 Landon Donovan MLS MVP, provides a formidable one-two punch in Nashville\u2019s attack alongside Sam Surridge<\/a>. The English striker is third in this year’s MLS Golden Boot presented by Audi race (22 goals), and has carried that form into the US Open Cup with a hat-trick in Nashville\u2019s 3-1 semifinal win<\/a> over the Philadelphia Union<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, head coach B.J. Callaghan believes the club\u2019s impressive run goes far beyond his two marquee players.<\/p>\n “I think the Open Cup has shone a light on how we are a real team from top to bottom,” Callaghan said. “We have a lot of players who contributed to this run, big moments in this run. And that\u2019s the beauty of the tournament, it\u2019s that you\u2019re going to call on everybody.”<\/p>\n The same goes for Austin, who reached the final thanks to a 120th-minute goal from CJ Fodrey<\/a> that gave them a dramatic 2-1 win<\/a> at Minnesota United FC<\/a>.<\/p>\n “We had a very difficult path to get to this point,” said S\u00e1nchez. “It\u2019s not easy at all to go to places like Minnesota, San Jose [in the quarterfinals] in the conditions that we had to play those games.”<\/p>\n Other than injured USMNT<\/a> striker Brandon Vazquez<\/a>, the Verde & Black are expected to be at full strength. Homegrown midfielder Owen Wolff<\/a> and DP forwards Myrto Uzuni<\/a> and Osman Bukari<\/a> will pace the attack, while All-Star goalkeeper Brad Stuver<\/a> anchors the backline.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s special. It is an opportunity that we\u2019re all very excited about,” said S\u00e1nchez. “We need to make the most out of it. We need to go after the game, go after our opponent and try to beat them on the field throughout the 90-plus [minutes].<\/p>\n “Whatever it takes.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nHistory on the line<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Star-studded final<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n