Myrto Uzuni and Osman Bukari combined to score the match’s lone goal and Austin FC’s defense did the rest as the visiting Verde outlasted St. Louis City 1-0 on Sunday afternoon in a Western Conference match.

The match was delayed for nearly an hour in the 68th minute by a torrential rain storm.

It’s the first time the Verde (4-2-0, 12 points) have won three straight matches since June 30-July 22, 2022 when Austin captured four in a row on the way to the Western Conference final. It’s the first time the Verde have beaten St. Louis City in five all-time meetings; one match between the teams ended in a draw.

Brad Stuver, bolstered by a defense that recorded two blocked shots, made three saves to earn his third clean sheet of the season.

St. Louis City (2-2-2, 8 points) lost 1-0 for the second straight match. City has allowed just two goals, the least of any team this season.

St. Louis’ Marcel Hartel produced the match’s initial shot on target in the 12th minute, although the effort was easily stopped by Stuver.

Austin scored on its first shot on goal when Uzuni turned around a flawless pass from Bukari to find the net in the 33rd minute. Bukari did the bulk of the work, dribbling down the right side against St. Louis defender Joakim Nilsson and making a nifty deke to get the ball to his left foot.

Bukari then threaded the needle, passing the ball to Uzuni short of the near post from where the Austin striker beat City goalkeeper Ben Lundt to the inside of the left post.

The Verde immediately pressed to add to the lead as Brandon Vazquez tested Lundt three minutes later, but the St. Louis keeper was up to the task, making the save to keep the margin at one goal.

Most of the first 15 minutes of the second half were played in the Austin defensive end, with Hartel getting off a shot on goal in the 53rd minute that was saved by Stuver.

After the rain delay, City managed just one more shot on goal as the Austin defense closed down the passing lanes and kept the clean sheet intact.

–Field Level Media