MLS Next Cup Playoffs: Preview - Austin FC U19

<p>After over nine months of action, the MLS Next season is about to come to an end soon as the MLS Next Cup Playoffs will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, from June 14-22, determining the league's 2025 champions.</p>   <p>The playoffs will feature 32 teams in the U15, U16, U17 and U19 age groups, reuniting MLS academies and other teams that compete in the league and rewarding those who got the best results during the season.</p>   <p>The state of Texas will be represented in all four age groups, with teams from [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'], [program_tooltip program_id='283648' first='FC' last='Dallas'], Global Football Innovation (GFI) Academy and the [program_tooltip program_id='283657' first='Houston' last='Dynamo'] making the trip to Tennessee to compete for the title.</p>   <p>In the days leading up to the tournament, we're previewing the Texas teams qualified for the MLS Next Cup playoffs:</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] U19</h2>   <p>The team from the academy of MLS club [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'] topped the Central (South) Division in league play, securing 32 points (ten wins, two losses, two ties). They qualified for the playoffs through the MLS Next Flex event back in April and will meet Indiana's Indy Eleven in the Round of 32 in Nashville.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DIW8fASz2Ia/ </div></figure>   <p>Austin has [player_tooltip player_id='90881' first='Nico' last='Aristizabal'] and Cooper Roney as the two goalkeepers in their squad. Captain Mason Miller, Lucas Cavalcante and [player_tooltip player_id='90389' first='Sebastian' last='Seiterle'] are the main options at center back. The outside back spots have Santiago Maynez on the right and Isaac Brown Samper on the left, with Jose 'Chuy' Moreno providing coverage on both sides. Austin's options in midfield include [player_tooltip player_id='90844' first='Landry' last='Moncrief'], Jackson Stephens, [player_tooltip player_id='88475' first='Abner' last='Zuniga'], Damion Perez, Mohammad Badawiya and David Santos. The team has [player_tooltip player_id='90945' first='Cole' last='Coughlin'], Joah Reyna, [player_tooltip player_id='226588' first='Kaleth' last='Jimenez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='44659' first='Wyatt' last='Harding'] on the wings, with Chris Avila and Sean Albritton up top.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Players</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">A Puerto Rico Youth international, Aristizabal is one of the top goalkeepers in his age group in the state. Always very reliable and consistent, he works extremely well between the posts, coming up with big saves and making the right choices every time he goes for the ball. Combining strong technical skills and impressive explosiveness, he benefits from his excellent positioning, which keeps every shot in range for him. The goalkeeper is also very effective when handling crosses into the box and is comfortable using his feet, being capable of connecting solid passes out of the back.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/C51O1Eop02e/ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">A mid-season addition to [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC'], Brown Samper earned a spot in the team's starting lineup playing as a left back. Coming from Italy, where he played in the academy of Serie B side Sassuolo, he's a player of solid technical skills, who can execute every action required on the field with a high level of efficiency. Brown Samper is great at beating opponents with quick moves and does a good job of driving the ball forward through the middle or out wide. He has great vision too and is capable of feeding his team's attacking players with accurate long passes behind the backline. Defensively, he thrives by stepping into the right spots to intercept passes and make tackles, and uses his six-foot frame to efficiently deal with long passes.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsr94NzIGe0 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">Moncrief has a key role in [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']'s playing system from his central midfielder position. Playing with tremendous intensity, he gets heavily involved in the team's game on both sides of the ball and makes a huge impact on their production. He's very committed defensively and controls the center of the field with his high-energy game, covering a lot of ground and fighting for the ball. Moncrief also does great work in possession, distributing the ball with tremendous intelligence and often supporting the attack with runs on and off the ball through the center of the field.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700">A talented left-footed midfielder, Badawiya is a very important piece in Austin's offensive system. Having recently played with the club's II two in the MLS Next Pro League, he does a great job of finding pockets of space to operate between the lines, from where he can make a major impact in the team's playmaking. Because of his excellent vision, Badawiya doesn't need much time on the ball to find teammates in dangerous spots in the final third and his passing is typically very accurate. The midfielder is also dangerous when dribbling opponents around the penalty box and provides great service from set pieces.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DHNDJFiN_kc/ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">A dynamic and aggressive wide player, Coughlin is very active at creating chances for [program_tooltip program_id='283612' first='Austin' last='FC']. Typically used on the right side of the team's offense, he's very skilled at beating opponents in 1v1 duels and has the ability the way in which he attacks the opposing backline, at times taking the ball to the end line to cross it, and on other occasions bringing it inside to combine with his teammates. Coughlin does a good job of tracking plays that develop on the opposite side of the field and finding his way into the box to get on the end of crosses. The winger also offers solid defensive contributions to the team, tracking back and displaying great commitment to play off the ball.</p>

After over nine months of action, the MLS Next season is about to come to an end soon as the MLS Next Cup Playoffs will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, from June 14-22, determining the league's 2025 champions.