Austin FC faces a challenging matchup against Sporting Kansas City on Sunday night, navigating a meaningful roster depletion due to international duty and injuries.The team will be without key midfielder Daniel Pereira, currently with Venezuela for World Cup qualifiers, and faces uncertainty in the backline with James Miller and midfielder Zorhan Bassong on international duty. Further compounding matters, Ilie Sánchez and Besard Sabovic are both dealing with injuries, forcing head coach Steve Estévez to consider tactical adjustments.This confluence of absences arrives at a critical juncture for Austin FC, impacting their ability to establish midfield control and maintain defensive stability. Estévez is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation initially, potentially shifting to a 4-4-2 around the hour mark with the introduction of Mason Toye. The team’s tactical versatility will be tested as they attempt to compensate for the missing personnel, with Jáder Obrian potentially moving to the left wing to accommodate a midfield drop-in by wolff.
Forward Rubio is anticipated to begin the match as a No. 9, with a possible transition to a deeper role forming a diamond midfield during possession, relying on wingers to make attacking runs. However,the absence of Pereira considerably complicates this strategy. New signing Mateja Djordjevic is also expected to make his debut, adding a fresh element to the squad. The defensive lineup remains fluid, with montes or Miller potentially starting in the backline.
