Austin’s Rope-a-Dope Defeats Monterrey

Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff pulled out a fifty-year-old strategy from his playbook for his match against CF Monterrey: the rope-a-dope.  And it worked.  Austin defeated Monterrey 2-to-0 in the Leagues Cup group play. 

Austin advances to the group of 32 knock-out round with its second win. 

The rope-a-dope is most famously associated with Muhammad Ali’s 1974 match against world heavyweight champion George Foreman.  The boxers keep their guard up and are prepared for the incoming blows while looking for opportunities to counter-punch their opponents, who by mounting an offensive may have left themselves open to counters. 

Austin first successful counter punch came in the first minute of the second half.  Jon Gallagher collected a perfect pass from Sebastian Driussi and sprinted down the left side of the field to set up Jader Obrian for the match’s first goal. 

Dani Pereira double Austin’s lead in the 80th minute, which became official after what felt like an extended video review for off-side.  Pereira decisively beat Monterrey goaltender in a one-on-one match-up. 

Monterrey dominated Austin,  aside from those two moments, leading in possession (65%-to-35%), total shots (20-to-5), total passes (667-to-262), passing accuracy (91%-to-78%) and crosses (21-to5). 

Austin led in only two statistical categories: clearances (20-to-1) and the final score.  The latter being the only one that counts.