Sunday's 2-2 draw between Austin FC and Minnesota United at Allianz Field might not look like a headline-grabber at first glance, but for the Verde & Black, it's a step in the right direction. As the MLS prepares to pause for the World Cup, Austin FC is quietly positioning itself to avoid the deep hole that plagued their early season. With a full roster expected to be healthy and ready to go when play resumes in late July for the final 19 games, every point earned now is crucial.

The draw was a mixed bag. On one hand, Austin FC continues to struggle with second-half defensive lapses—a problem compounded by roster health issues—and likely lost center back Brendan Hines-Ike to a hamstring injury for the next three matches. The team also had long stretches of subpar play in both halves. On the other hand, they walked away with a road point against a top-five Western Conference club. Considering the grueling schedule ahead—a 72-hour turnaround and another four-hour flight to face San Diego on Wednesday—that point feels like a win. In a stretch of three games in seven days, even a draw can be a lifeline.

"Any result you can get on the road is a positive, but we came here to win," said Austin FC coach Nico Estévez. "With winning the last two matches, there's room for results like this."

The match saw goals from Myrto Uzuni and Christian Ramírez, but it was the latter's late heroics that saved the day. After Joaquín Pereyra put Minnesota ahead in the 77th minute with a slick give-and-go from James Rodriguez—a play that exposed Austin FC's defensive frailties—Ramírez answered just two minutes later, leveling the score and securing the team's third straight result. At 35 years old, Ramírez has been a revelation since joining the club five days after the season started. He now has four goals and an assist, all of which have come in matches that ended in wins or draws. "This is why we brought him in," Estévez added, highlighting the veteran's clutch impact.