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Austin FC's Kekuta Manneh is getting his first start in front of his hometown crowd at Q2 Stadium. (Austin FC/Twitter)
Q2 Stadium is an undefeated fortress no longer.
After a fiery 4-1 breakthrough win, Austin FC saw history repeat itself and suffered their first loss at Q2 Stadium at the hands of LAFC.
Much like their first bout with the Los Angeles club, Austin lost steam midmatch as their undefeated streak came to a close. Two more dismal injuries put the already-thin home team's midfield out of whack, and a series of mistakes near goal kept the club scoreless once again.
LAFC is now 2-0 against Austin. The match is Austin FC's first loss since ending their seven-match road streak in June.
Midfielder Tomas Pochettino was the first to go down for the Verde and Black and wasn't on the starting XI for the first time this season due to what head coach Josh Wolff called a "minor" abductor injury. In his stead was hometown hero Kekuta Manneh, the only player with Austin ties.
Manneh helped the team put forth early starting efforts in the first half as Austin got out to a characteristically hot start at Q2 Stadium.
We're spreading the love tonight. Close one from @kekuta16. 😅 pic.twitter.com/bz7OQCj7Bf
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) July 8, 2021
Just one minute in to play, midfielder Daniel Pereira was given a yellow card for charging after LAFC player Eduard Atuesta. It was one of many falls for the Los Angeles team, a few of which were rewarded with yellow cards for both Julio Cascante and Zan Kolmanic. Emotions would run high and LAFC would take increasingly dramatic tumbles as the match wore on.
Like clockwork, another fateful injury turned the tides of the match as Pereira fell himself in the 35th minute. Wolff said that Pereira sustained an unspecified abdomen injury, and he became the eighth current Austin FC player out on injury.
With Jon Gallagher out too on an injured foot—the same one that he used to score Austin's first home goal against Portland last week—Wolff was forced to piece together a lineup with the team's youngest and least experienced crew.
Wolff said it's always hard to recover from injury, especially when there seems to be at least one a match.
"It's unsettling when....you miss out on some real key players," Wolff said. "I think we saw last week what those guys brought to the game."
LAFC had the ball between its feet for only 40% of the match but stayed efficient. In the 25th minute, it seemed star player Carlos Vela had put Austin FC at a deficit for their first time at their home stadium, but a foul was called and the goal was called off as thousands at Q2 cheered.
😐 https://t.co/owv65B0bew
— LAFC (@LAFC) July 8, 2021
It didn't matter for long, though, as Jose Cifuentes got a rare ball past keeper Brad Stuver and put LAFC up 1-0.
Cifuentes finishes on the rebound and @LAFC lead in Austin. #ATXvLAFCpic.twitter.com/BwQZIYTRr6
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 8, 2021
The opposing team wouldn't put a lid on the match until one minute was left, when Stuver saved a ball in a one-man-show but was quickly beat out on the second try from star striker Diego Rossi.
There's the dagger!
Rossi buries it and @LAFC lead 2-0 late. #ATXvLAFCpic.twitter.com/As2mOn9eiC
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 8, 2021
Still, it was clear where the match was going as Austin reverted back to scorelessness.. Austin's offense, which ran like a well-oiled machine just a week prior, stumbled without their steady midfield, and the club looked sloppy as they fought to get in goal.
With the 22-and-under crew as some of the club's only available starters, Wolff said it'll get competitive in practice as they enjoy a two-week hiatus from MLS matches.
"We're going to continue to need guys to come in as starters and as reserves and give us a lift when we need it," Wolff said. "There's certainly going to be more repetition."
Austin's bones will get a rest as they focus on rest and repetition for the next few weeks, but the club will still hit the pitch on Tuesday, July 12 as they play Liga MX's Tigres in a friendly at Q2 Stadium.
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Popular
(Gulfstream)
Elon Musk has placed an order for a new, top-of-the-line private jet: a Gulfstream G700, Austonia has learned. Delivery is expected in early 2023.
Billed as offering “the most spacious cabin in history,” the aircraft seats 19 and soars above the rest of us at up to 51,000 feet. Base price: $78 million.
The Gulfstream G700 was awarded the 2022 International Yacht & Aviation Award for excellence in cabin design this year. (Gulfstream)
According to the Gulfstream website, the G700 can fly up to 7,500 nautical miles without refueling, enough range to fly nonstop from Austin to Hong Kong. Powered by two Rolls-Royce engines, it has its own Wi-Fi system, 20 oval windows measuring 28” x 21”, and two lavatories.
The sweet new ride will replace his current top-of-line private jet: a 2015 Gulfstream G650, the aircraft that has been made somewhat famous by the automated @elonjet Twitter account, which tracks and reports his personal aircraft’s movements using public data.
Landed in Austin, Texas, US. Apx. flt. time 44 Mins. pic.twitter.com/jZ7HI0i4iV
— ElonJet (@ElonJet) June 24, 2022
Musk has repeatedly championed “free speech” as a guiding ethic in his planned purchase of Twitter. Last December, Musk offered the teenager who built the @elonjet tracker $50,000 to shut it down, citing security concerns. It’s still up.
According to the @elonjet account, Musk’s jet last traveled to Austin, where it’s been since June 23. The associated data says that his flight to Austin burned $2,573 worth of aviation fuel and discharged 4 tons of carbon dioxide.
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(Valencia Hotel Group)
Live music and beer? Say no more. With a location in Austin, and others throughout Texas, the court hotels by the Valencia Hotel Group have a new offering for weekend stays: Live Music & Longnecks.
Enjoy live music all weekend long and check out the hotels’ state-of-the-art amenities between sets. Make a splash in the pool, enjoy outdoor fire pits, or challenge your friends in a yard game while enjoying a weekend full of live music! Did we mention the package includes deluxe accommodations and a bucket of beer? Oh, and if you needed more convincing, this pet-friendly hotel means the whole family can join in on the fun.
The hotels
Explore any of the Court Hotels by Valencia Hotel Group for a memorable escape. Each property offers a unique experience remnant of yesteryear but with all of the modern amenities that make for a fun and comfortable stay. With acres of landscaped courtyards, relax and unwind in an outdoor environment perfect for doing everything or absolutely nothing at all. With locations in Austin, College Station, Irving, and Lubbock your urban retreat has never been so close.
The music
Locals and travelers alike are invited to enjoy the deep roots of Texas music all summer long with a robust lineup of live performances. From the banks of the San Antonio Riverwalk to Irving’s manicured streets, Valencia’s hotels are a place to gather and reconnect, offering uniquely Texan settings for the weekly performances.
“We’re proud of the community we’ve fostered among Texas musicians and the many rising stars who perform at our properties,” says Amy Trench, corporate director of brand marketing & PR for Valencia Hotel Group.
In Austin, you can catch good ol’ fashioned Texas country by Drew Moreland and Clayton Gardner, bluegrass by Reagan Quinn, and much, much more.
With unique programming at each of Valencia’s properties, there’s something for everyone to enjoy all summer long.
The perks
If you’re a Valencia Hotel Group Rewards member, the perks are plentiful. Enjoy up to 10% off the Best Available Rate, and for a limited time, members can save up to 15% off a stay of 2 nights or more, for select stays in 2022.
But that’s really just the beginning. At select locations, you can enjoy discounts on weeknight stays, a complimentary third night, or curated packages for a romantic getaway or a night of watching the Verde at Q2 Stadium. You’ll also find special rates for AAA and AARP Members, educators, and front-line heroes including military, law enforcement, fire, and rescue workers.