ST. PAUL, Minn. (Sept. 17, 2025) – Alright, alright, alright.
It might seem trite to quote actor, renowned Texan and Austin FC minority owner Matthew McConaughey when his club comes out on top, but the latest result for the Major League Soccer side was more than a win.
This win was historic.
Austin FC edged out Minnesota United FC 2-1 in dramatic fashion in the Semifinal of the 2025 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at MNUFC’s home stadium of Allianz Field in St. Paul on Wednesday night with a remarkable game-winning goal in the 120th minute.
And the implications for the expansion club that entered MLS in 2021 are more than just alright. The victory continues the longest Open Cup run in Austin FC’s five-year history and means Los Verdes will host the tournament’s Final in two weeks on Oct. 1.
“It's a special moment,” said Austin FC head coach Nico Estévez. “[It means] everything. For everyone that works for the club – for every player, every staff member, the fans, all the families – it’s an important moment for the history of the club.”
The goal that made all that possible arrived at the very death of an intense match that was level at 1-1 for nearly an hour. With both teams briefly finding flashes in 30 minutes of extra time, a penalty kick shootout felt inevitable to determine which of the MLS Western Conference clubs would advance to the Final of this country’s most historic competition.
Then, Austin FC saw a glimmer of promise. As the seconds ticked down, Los Verdes moved deep into the attacking third. Midfielder Jon Gallagher brought a ball down with his chest then, on a bounce, he lifted a cross into the box. Myrto Uzuni’s initial header on the other end was brisk and forced Minnesota goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair to make an instinctive block. But the Minnesota defenders didn’t account for the short rebound – nor CJ Fodrey lingering nearby inside the six-yard box, primed and ready to play the role of unlikely hero. Fodrey handled the rebound with a measured kick and slammed a shot into the back of the net.
The finish at the 119:51 mark was the latest goal in Austin FC history. And it’s not the only game-winner that Fodrey has scored in his budding career. On Sept. 7, the 21-year-old forward decided another Austin match when he flicked in a header from an Owen Wolff corner kick. That day, Austin FC defeated Sporting Kansas City in MLS play, also 2-1.
In the span of just 10 days, Fodrey scored his first MLS goal and his first Open Cup goal.
“He's a great, great kid,” said Coach Estévez. “He works hard. He wants to improve. He wants to get better. He has that physicality, that speed. He also has the willingness to run into the box, to have a presence in the box and to score goals. He’s been working really hard the whole year, and now every day of training is paying off for him.”
The date with Nashville SC on Oct. 1 will be the first major final for Austin FC. Since joining MLS five years ago, the club has not had many chances to compete for trophies. Three out of four times, the Austin side has failed to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs. Last season, they missed out on a Wild Card spot, finishing 10th in the Western Conference with an 11-14-9 record. The year before that, El Tree finished 12th.
“We’re a very young team. Lately, we haven’t had these experiences,” Estévez said. “We’re coming from a difficult season also with ups and downs. To have the opportunity to play a final this year is huge.”
The group is determined to write a different story in 2025. Austin FC is steadily climbing the MLS standings. They entered Wednesday’s contest ranked No. 7 in the conference, five spots below Minnesota at No. 2. Entering the final month of MLS’ regular season, Austin has already equaled the club's win total from a year ago and will have a chance to stay competitive for a playoff spot down the stretch heading into Decision Day.
Before that, the club has a chance to win some silverware on home turf. The Semifinal win secured home field advantage over fellow Final Four winner Nashville SC, who took care of business against Philadelphia Union on Sept. 16.
As Austin looks to stymie Nashville’s lethal goal scorer and MLS Golden Boot leader Sam Surridge, the club will do so in front of the Verde & Black faithful at Q2 Stadium.
While the Semifinal win is a special moment worth celebrating, it’s not all fun and games for the Austin FC players. As goalkeeper Brad Stuver, a hero through this rare U.S. Open Cup Final run, reiterated leaving the locker at Allianz Field, there’s more history to be made.
“The job is not finished,” he said.