Brandon Vazquez is savouring his comeback following a long injury lay-off.

Austin FC forward Vazquez made his first appearance since July 2025 as he came on from the bench against St. Louis City SC last weekend.

With Austin leading 2-0, Vazquez came on to a huge ovation in the 89th minute.

"I've been visualising this moment for a long time," Vazquez told reporters. "Just grinding through every day, pretty much, to get here.

"Being able to be back with the team, being able to step back onto the field and hearing the stadium go crazy, it was an amazing feeling.

"There were a lot of days where I finished rehab, and cried on my way home.

"There were some very difficult days. So the consistency of staying positive, of showing up with the discipline to push myself every single day and be the best version of myself, that was the hardest part.

"My family, my wife and son, having them by my side has been the very best thing for me; they take my mind off the pain and everything else."

Back-to-back wins have lifted Austin into 11th place in the Western Conference, ahead of this weekend's trip to fifth-place Minnesota United.

"I think we all know that there are things we still need to work on, but the team looks better and better with every match," Vazquez added.

"The quality of the players we have is incredible, so I believe that once the pieces fall into place, we'll undoubtedly be flying."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Minnesota United - Kelvin Yeboah

Yeboah recorded his fifth career multi-goal game with a pair of second-half goals against the Columbus Crew last Saturday.

It is the second time he has scored multiple goals in the second half of an MLS match as he joins Kevin Molino (three times) as the only players with multiple two-goal second halves with the Loons.

Austin FC - Myrto Uzuni

Uzuni has recorded a goal contribution in four straight MLS games with three goals and two assists over that time.

The only player with a longer such streak in Austin's history is Sebastian Driussi, who went 11 straight league matches with a goal contribution in 2022.

MATCH PREDICTION: MINNESOTA WIN

Minnesota are made the favourites by Opta's supercomputer, having won five of their last six MLS games.

However, Austin are riding a three-game unbeaten streak across all competitions against Minnesota (W1 D2), and a four-game unbeaten run at Allianz Field (W3 D1).

The home team have failed to win any of the last seven competitive matches between these teams since Austin won at home in May 2023.

Austin have recorded shutout wins in each of its last two games with 2-0 victories over both the Houston Dynamo and St. Louis City. The club has never recorded three straight clean sheet victories across all competitions.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Minnesota United - 56.2%

Draw - 22.9%

Austin - 20.9%