Uzuni enjoying new freedom as Austin shift to back three

Austin FC interim head coach Davy Arnaud believes Myrto Uzuni's repositioning within the squad is unlocking the Albanian international's best form, just as the Verde and Black prepare to resume MLS duties against Western Conference rivals FC Dallas on Sunday.

Uzuni has been a standout for Austin during their Leagues Cup campaign, helping the club book a quarter-final berth. Across the three first-phase matches, the 31-year-old scored four goals and supplied one assist — a haul that included a hat-trick against Puebla.

Arnaud backs tactical tweak

Austin have recently switched to a back three, with Uzuni operating in a deeper role behind striker Christian Ramirez. Arnaud is convinced the change is paying dividends.

"I love Myrto. I love the way that he plays, and I love his intensity," Arnaud said. "He can be fiery at times, and he wears his heart on his sleeve. It's a passionate game. To play at a high level, you got to be on that line.

"He can disagree with certain things or not be happy with his performance, but he never doesn't work for the team. I have so much time for that. I have so much respect for that, because to me, there's nothing more important.

"The role he's playing now is as one of these attacking midfielders. I think it suits him well.

"He's a late arriver in the box. He does that well, and I think you see his quality in the box. When he gets chances in and around the box, he can finish, and he's finishing well right now."

Players to watch

Of the 21 MLS goals scored by Austin players this season, Uzuni has netted six while Ramirez has scored five. The duo have accounted for eight of the team's 12 home goals in MLS play, with six of those coming in Austin's four home victories.

For FC Dallas, Petar Musa looms large. The striker has registered a goal contribution in each of his five league meetings with Austin FC — three goals and three assists — making the Texas rivalry his most productive regular-season matchup against any single MLS team.

Form and prediction

Dallas won two of their three Leagues Cup matches but missed out on the last eight. In MLS, they sit seventh in the Western Conference after failing to win any of their three games since the World Cup break (D2 L1).

Dallas lead the all-time regular-season series, winning eight of 13 meetings (D3 L2). Austin's only two wins have come at home, where they are unbeaten in three against the rivalry (W2 D1).

Austin have been shut out in four of their last six regular-season matches and are trying to avoid a third consecutive blank for the first time since April 2023. Dallas, meanwhile, have failed to score in their last two league games after netting multiple goals in each of the previous six, and have not gone three straight MLS matches scoreless since August 2020.

Opta's win probability favours the visitors: Austin FC 32.3%, Draw 25.5%, FC Dallas 42.2%.