AUSTIN, Texas – Austin Bold FC returns home looking to bump up its playoff chances in the Mountain Division as it plays host to Atlantic Division contender Miami FC on Saturday night at Bold Stadium in an interconference matchup that brings the sides together for the first time in their histories. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.

@AustinBoldFC (6-5-6, 23pts) dropped back below the playoff line in the Mountain Division last weekend after suffering a 3-0 defeat against El Paso Locomotive FC at Southwest University Park that allowed Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC and San Antonio FC move ahead and send Bold FC into fifth place in the standings. Bold FC has been up and down in its form this season, but has produced positive results on home turf recently with two wins out of three at Bold Stadium since mid-July. Saturday’s game kicks off a key three-game homestand for Bold FC that also sees division rivals Rio Grande Valley FC and New Mexico United visit, and victory would go a long way to setting up the opportunities to build in those two games for Head Coach Marcelo Serrano’s side in the big picture.

@TheMiamiFC (9-6-3, 30pts) will try to put a pin in those plans as it arrives on a three-game undefeated streak and buoyed by a 3-2 win on Wednesday night against Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC that saw the side rally from a two-goal deficit at Highmark Stadium. After falling into a two-goal deficit early in the second half, Miami got consecutive goals in back-to-back minutes from Haiti international Christiano Francois and Jamaican international Speedy Williams to get back on level terms less than 10 minutes after the break, and then Williams converted from the penalty spot inside the final 10 minutes to earn Miami a valuable three points. Francois is now tied for the team-lead with four goals this season alongside Ariel Martinez, while Williams and Othello Bah have scored three apiece to move Miami within three points of the Atlantic Division lead.

FiveThirtyEight.com Match Predictor: Austin Bold FC 40%, Miami FC 34%, Draw 27%

Most Recent Lineups

Austin Bold FC (4-4-2): Elliot Panicco; Kofi Sarkodie, Fabien Garcia, Gustavo Rissi, Nick Hinds; Xavier Baez, Omar Ciss, Juan Torres, Collin Fernandez; Omar Gordon, Stefano Pinho

Miami FC (4-2-3-1): Connor Sparrow; Junior Palacios, Paco Craig, Luca Antonelli, Robert Kcira; Speedy Williams, Bolu Akinyode; Christiano Francois, Lamar Walker, Othello Bah; Ariel Martinez

Discipline

Austin Bold FC – None

Miami FC – Suspended: Junior Palacios