'The goals came tonight': Gyasi Zardes assesses a milestone-making brace for Austin FC

Veteran striker Gyasi Zardes came through with both goals in Austin FC's 2-1 home win on Saturday night against NYCFC. Was this a difference maker for the playoffs?

There was one big story out of Saturday night’s 2-1 Austin FC win over NYCFC: Gyasi Zardes, without a goal in the team’s first 21 matches of 2024, bagged a brace to lead the way and bring his MLS career total up to 105.

“I've been trying to score since the first game of the season,” Zardes said after the match, “and it hasn't come, but I've observed many strikers in the past that were in my position and didn't score until later in the season. But you have to keep your head down and you have to keep working and showing up. The goals came tonight, and I have to keep my head down and keep working so more goals can come.”

He added, in something that will certainly please Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff, “Whether I start or whether I come off the bench, I'm gonna give it my all. I support every decision that the coach is making. You know, I'm just gonna work hard whether I'm starting the game or coming off the bench. I was fortunate to get to the start today and I just have to keep going, keep working hard, and keep doing whatever is asked of me. I'm a team player and I always have been.”

With the two goals on Saturday, Zardes moved past Canadian striker Dwayne De Rosario for 10th all-time in the MLS scoring pantheon, with Josef Martinez and Jason Kreis above him with 108. (Martinez, of course, is still active in MLS, with three goals for CF Montréal this season, while Kreis, now with the Real Salt Lake front office, finished his MLS playing career with that team in 2007.)

Wolff, assessing the veteran striker’s performance, said, “I think it's coming in and obviously through training, getting up to speed, gaining confidence, but confidence comes for me from preparation. Certainly, days and weeks of execution put you in a better headspace. But he's a goal scorer. You put him in front of goal; he has good instincts, position’s usually pretty good. Sometimes, it's just getting out of your own way and just doing what you've done your whole career.”

Gyasi Zardes was deservedly the man of the match. (Austin FC/Twitter)