Sporting KC stun Austin FC with late 2-1 comeback win to make it two straight wins

Sporting Kansas City went to Q2 Stadium on Saturday night and did something the club had never done before: win in Austin. The 2-1 comeback victory over Austin was Sporting’s second straight MLS win and lifted the Wizards to 11 points from 13 matches.

For a team that looked dead and buried after a 6-0 humiliation against Portland just a week ago, the turnaround has been dramatic.

Sporting KC dominate despite halftime deficit

Sporting controlled the first half but went into the break trailing after Mikkel Desler volleyed home from a Guilherme Biro cross just before halftime. In past seasons, and often in 2026, that kind of punch to the gut would have been the beginning of the collapse.

This time, Sporting responded like a team that finally believes in itself. The visitors finished with 54% possession, 20 shots, 30 touches in Austin’s penalty area, and an xG of 1.52. Those are the numbers of a team dictating the match rather than hanging on for dear life.

Head coach Raphael Wicky said the performance mattered as much as the result.

“I’m mostly very, very happy about the result and the win, but I’m even more happy about the performance,” Wicky said. “I think we were the better team.”

Super subs flip the script

Wicky again stuck with the 4-4-2 system that dismantled the LA Galaxy in midweek. It was the first time all season that Wicky chose the same starting XI from the previous game. Changes were previously made due to fitness issues, but also due to Wicky’s own tinkering.

Finally, the Swiss coach has stuck with a starting group and a formation. The cohesion has helped massively. While the starting XI was key, just as importantly, his substitutes changed the match.

Manu Garcia equalized with a stunning strike in the 79th minute from the edge of the penalty area, continuing his strong response to being used off the bench.

Three minutes later, Stephen Afrifa curled a superb winner past Brad Stuver–who’d stopped nearly everything up to that point. Afrifa may have got the goal, but the pressure from Calvin Harris helped create it.

“I’m just happy to help the team get the win,” Afrifa said.

Belief returns ahead of the World Cup break

Sporting remain eight points off the playoff line, but for the first time all season there is genuine momentum. Wicky’s tactical shift has unleashed Harris, Capita, and Afrifa, while the return of Zorhan Bassong has added energy in midfield. Taylor Calheira may not have scored a goal for Sporting, but his presence as a striker in the team’s 4-4-2 has been huge.

Garcia said the biggest change is simple.

“We’re doing things all together,” he said. “Now it’s starting to click.”

Sporting have one match left before the FIFA World Cup break and 20 games remaining afterward. Reinforcements are coming, including incoming center-back Or Blorian.

A week ago, this season looked like a lost cause. Today, Sporting Kansas City suddenly looks like a team that might have some fight in them.

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