Mikey Varas believes San Diego FC’s underdog mentality will serve them well when they make the trip to Austin FC with several key players out injured.
San Diego have made a fine start to their debut MLS campaign, earning eight points from their first four matches.
Only Vancouver Whitecaps and Los Angeles FC are above them in the Western Conference standings, where they are the only unbeaten team remaining.
But Varas’ side, who drew 1-1 with the Columbus Crew last week, will be without Marcus Ingvartsen, Hirving Lozano and Andres Reyes due to injury in Texas on Sunday, while Anibal Godoy and Paddy McNair are on international duty.
“In life, no matter how talented or how up you are, if you have a fighting team spirit and an underdog mentality, you always give yourself a chance,” Varas said ahead of the game.
“At the end of the day, we’re going to have good games and bad games, technically and tactically, because that’s life.
“But what should be non-negotiable is our fight and having that spirit of being humble, being respectful of the game and the opponent and of our community, and making sure we’re always giving a huge effort.
“When we’ve got five players missing, it’s an opportunity for anyone.”
Austin, meanwhile, have two wins and two losses under new coach Nico Estevez, having earned an eye-catching 1-0 triumph away to LAFC last week.
Twenty-year-old attacking prospect Owen Wolff has teed up their only two goals this season, prompting Estevez to shower him with praise.
“I think this is a good season for him, because of the profile of player that he is, and the profile of player that we don’t have,” Estevez said.
“He is a player that has a really good understanding of playing in between the lines. He has really good acceleration when dribbling forward and also has a really good pass in behind the backline.”
Relentless Training Sessions pic.twitter.com/7dsv1o0s4E
— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) March 20, 2025
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Austin FC – Brandon Vazquez
Going back to the end of last season, Austin’s last four regular-season goals have been headers, scored by four different players.
Vazquez is yet to score this season, but only seven players across the entirety of MLS have bettered his 13 aerial duels won in 2025.
San Diego FC – Anders Dreyer
San Diego’s Dreyer has created 11 chances in MLS this season, with only Cristian Espinoza, Albert Rusnak (both 15) and Marcel Hartel (13) creating more.
Dreyer also has three goals to his name, with only Tai Baribo (six) and Hugo Cuypers (four) netting more throughout the first four matchdays of 2025.
MATCH PREDICTION – AUSTIN FC WIN
San Diego are just the second expansion team in MLS history to go unbeaten through their first four matches, after St. Louis City did so in their first five in 2023.
They have only conceded twice through four matches, tied for the second-fewest goals shipped by an expansion team in their first four games, alongside the 2009 Seattle Sounders.
We could be in for a tight contest, then.
Austin have six points from matches (W2 L2), with both of their wins coming by 1-0 scorelines, while they have failed to score in both losses.
They are the second team in MLS history to have six points through four matches of a season despite scoring just two goals, after Sporting Kansas City in 2017, but home advantage makes them favourites.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Austin FC – 42.3%
San Diego FC – 31%
Draw – 26.7%
