LAFC vs Austin FC
Saturday, April 8 at 4:30pm PT
Location: BMO Stadium - Los Angeles, California
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, FOX, FOX Deportes
Radio: 710 AM ESPN, ESPN LA App, 980 AM La Mera Mera
After a 3-0 win in dominating fashion in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday, April 5, the Black & Gold now face their second short turnaround of April when they host Austin FC on Saturday at BMO Stadium.
This is a rematch of the 2022 MLS Cup Western Conference Final, where LAFC defeated Austin FC 3-0 to secure a spot in the 2022 MLS Cup.
LAFC are coming in having only lost two of its last 26 MLS home matches, including the playoffs, with one of the losses being at the hands of the Verde last May.
Austin FC currently sit in seventh place in the Western Conference, through five games. They Verde last played March 25 when they tied 1-1 against the Colorado Rapids.
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AUSTIN FC IN-DEPTH
Led by head coach Josh Wolff, Austin FC is looking to get back to where they left off in 2022. The Verde owned both regular season matchups in 2022 against LAFC before coming up short in the Western Conference Final.
Austin has lost six out of their last seven away MLS matches, but is confident they will be able to turn their recent road woes around.
Defender Jon Gallagher leads the team with three goals and one assist while 2022 MLS MVP runner-up Sebastián Driussi is off to a slow start with only one goal scored through five games, but remains a lethal threat when he is on the pitch.
The Verde are expected to be without defender Julio Cascante, who is dealing with an adductor strain.
LAFC WILL WIN IF
They can remain focused in a matchup being held in-between Concacaf Champions League legs. The Black & Gold are playing four games in 11 days and their depth will be tested once again. LAFC needs Stipe Biuk, Sergi Palencia and Timothy Tillman to continue to make their presence felt on the pitch in order for the team’s recent success to continue. Denis Bouanga is proving to be the Club’s most dangerous scoring option whenever he is on the pitch and the team will need to feed off his energy.
AUSTIN FC CAN WIN IF
They catch LAFC off-guard early. The Verde have conceded four goals in the final 15 minutes of matches that have caused them to drop five points through their first five games this season. They will need to get ahead early and hope they can quiet the Black & Gold fortress at BMO Stadium.
