Ramírez and Uzuni Score as Austin FC Blank St. Louis City 2-0 on Night Vázquez Returns

AUSTIN, Texas — For 68 minutes on Sunday night, Roman Bürki looked like he might steal a point by himself. Then Christian Ramírez found a way past him, Myrto Uzuni found another, and Austin FC beat St. Louis City SC 2-0 at Q2 Stadium on a night that ended with the loudest cheer reserved for a substitute who entered in the 89th minute.

Brandon Vázquez, out since tearing his ACL on July 8, 2025, came on in the final minutes for his first appearance of the season. Owen Wolff, back from sports hernia surgery in January, also made his 2026 debut off the bench. The crowd of 20,738 marked the club's 94th consecutive MLS home sellout, extending the league's longest active streak.

Bürki Holds the Line

Austin had the better of the first half without anything to show for it. In the 21st minute, Uzuni's close-range header forced a sprawling save from Bürki, who was making his 100th career MLS start, the first St. Louis player to reach that mark. The Austin Chronicle reported that Guilherme Biro also had an apparent goal disallowed for a handball, and just before halftime, according to Austin FC's match report, Ilie Sánchez's powerful shot was blocked over the bar.

"I think we came out on the front foot," Ramírez told MLSsoccer.com afterward. "In the first half, we just witnessed [St. Louis goalkeeper Roman] Bürki put on an incredible performance."

St. Louis had its moments, too. In the 56th minute, a mis-hit back pass from Mikkel Desler sent Marcel Hartel and Simon Becher in alone on goal, but Hartel's pass drifted too wide and Becher's shot hit the outside of the net, according to the Chronicle. Stuver made four saves on the way to the clean sheet.

Ramírez Breaks Through

The opener finally came from a set piece. Dani Pereira, who had entered in the 65th minute, supplied the delivery and Ramírez headed it in from the center of the box in the 69th minute. Uzuni was credited with the second assist. MLSsoccer.com counts 80 career goal contributions for Ramírez, 58 goals and 22 assists, in 195 matches.

Twelve minutes later, Austin put it away. Ramírez turned provider, and Uzuni finished with a left-footed shot from the center of the box into the bottom-left corner, with Jon Gallagher also credited with an assist. It was Uzuni's fourth goal of the season, and MLSsoccer.com noted he now has four goals and four assists in 2026.

The Returns

Wolff came on in the 82nd minute. Seven minutes later, Vázquez replaced Uzuni, and the building came alive. "Hearing the stadium go crazy, it was an amazing feeling," Vázquez told the Austin Chronicle.

Head coach Nico Estévez spoke warmly about the striker. "Brandon is a player who's loved by his teammates, the staff and the fans," he said, according to MLSsoccer.com. "He's a player who leaves it all on the field."

Ramírez, who has only been in Austin a short time, said the return meant plenty in the locker room. "Nico said it this week, this is the moment we've been waiting for to have everybody healthy and available," he said. "But it's great to see those guys back, especially Brandon."

Not everyone was available. The Chronicle reported that winger Jayden Nelson was scratched after warmups with a calf issue. "We have to see what the medical side says, but it's something that we have to fix," Estévez said.

By the Numbers

St. Louis City's official match report had Austin ahead 15-12 in total shots and 6-4 in shots on goal, while St. Louis won the corner count 6-4 and committed 20 fouls to Austin's 14. Five players were booked: Biro and Brendan Hines-Ike for Austin, and Timo Baumgartl, Chris Durkin and Brendan McSorley for the visitors.

The result was Austin's second straight 2-0 win, following a Copa Tejas victory over Houston Dynamo FC the week before. It moved the club to 3-4-4 and up to 11th in the Western Conference, according to MLSsoccer.com. "Good to get back-to-back wins and continue to build on it," Ramírez said.

What's Next

Austin hits the road to face Minnesota United FC on Sunday, May 10. Estévez called it "a really good challenge to see where we are right now after these two wins." St. Louis City heads to Colorado to play the Rapids on Saturday, May 9.

For Austin, the bigger picture may be the one Ramírez described. With Vázquez and Wolff back, the group that has spent the spring waiting to be whole finally looks close to it.

Photo Credit: Osvaldo Castro/Undrafted