Austin FC falls to Real Salt Lake in MLS action

Verde & Black missing several key starters in 2-1 defeat

Mar. 15, 2026 at 6:33am

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Austin FC lost to Real Salt Lake 2-1 on Saturday, with the team missing several key starters due to injuries and suspensions. Jon Bell scored the lone goal for Austin FC, but an own goal and a late strike from Stijn Spierings gave the win to the home side. The absence of players like Guilherme Biro, Mikkel Desler, Owen Wolff and Dani Pereira hampered Austin FC's performance, and the team struggled to create chances throughout the match.

Why it matters

The loss highlights the depth issues Austin FC is facing early in the season, with multiple important players sidelined. Until the team gets healthier, they may be in a "treading water" mode, trying to avoid falling too far behind in the standings before reinforcements return.

The details

Austin FC made their first substitution of the match in the 59th minute, bringing on 22-year-old Jorge Alastuey from the club's second team on a short-term contract. While Alastuey had a respectable debut, his inclusion underscored the limited options Austin FC had off the bench. Jon Bell gave the visitors the lead with a first-half header, but an own goal by Oleksandr Svatok and a long-range strike from Stijn Spierings in the second half turned the match in Real Salt Lake's favor.

  • Austin FC lost to Real Salt Lake on Saturday, March 15, 2026.
  • Jon Bell scored the opening goal for Austin FC in the first half.

The players

Jorge Alastuey

A 22-year-old player on Austin FC's second team who made his MLS debut in the 59th minute of the match.

Jon Bell

Scored the opening goal for Austin FC with a first-half header.

Oleksandr Svatok

Scored an own goal that tied the match for Real Salt Lake.

Stijn Spierings

Scored the winning goal for Real Salt Lake with a long-range strike in the second half.

Nico Estévez

The head coach of Austin FC who lamented his team's missed chances and lack of aggression in the second half.

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What they’re saying

“We need to be braver in our pressing. And we need to be (more aggressive) with the ball. ... We didn't do a good job with the ball in the second half. We didn't have the patience and (creativity), and that punished us.”

— Nico Estévez, Head Coach, Austin FC (statesman.com)

“We thought we deserved a point out of the match, but it's difficult to agree with that considering how little the attack did, especially in the second half.”

— Jon Bell, Defender, Austin FC (statesman.com)

What’s next

Austin FC will look to bounce back when they return home to face LAFC on Saturday.

The takeaway

Austin FC's depth issues have been exposed early in the season, with multiple key starters sidelined due to injuries and suspensions. The team will need to find a way to tread water until they can get healthier, as excelling in March is rarely remembered in the long MLS season.