Austin FC head into Sunday’s match knowing exactly what needs to be done: win or see their MLS Cup playoff run come to an end. The 2-1 loss to LAFC in Los Angeles left the Verde and Black trailing in the series, but not out of it. Back home at Q2 Stadium, Austin are counting on their home crowd and familiar turf to push for a Game 3 and keep their season alive.
Austin FC look to use home advantage and the balance of the matchup
The game in Los Angeles showed little difference between the two sides. Despite the defeat, Austin put in a solid performance and conceded both goals on deflected shots, with neither Son Heung-Min nor Denis Bouanga, the LAFC duo known for breaking games open, directly involved. Jon Gallagher scored Austin’s lone goal in the 63rd minute after a precise pass from Owen Wolff. It was Gallagher’s 14th for the club, making him the third-highest scorer in team history.
At home, Austin are typically hard to beat. During the regular season, they won seven of 17 games at Q2 Stadium and conceded just 17 goals, second-fewest in the Western Conference. Their defense has been the team’s most reliable trait, making up for a lack of attacking output in recent weeks. Austin have scored one goal or fewer in each of their last five matches, which explains their focus on short, quick transitions. The club also has a strong postseason record in Texas’ capital, winning both of their previous playoff games at home, including one over Dallas in 2022.
LAFC arrive with an edge and decisive experience
LAFC travel to Austin up 1-0 in the series and with a chance to finish the job without needing a third game. They took the first matchup 2-1 thanks to goals from Ryan Hollingshead and Nathan Ordaz, both coming from deflected plays off the Austin defense. While the attack was sharp, the standout performer was Son Heung-Min, who, despite not scoring or assisting, created eight chances, delivered eight corners, and was named man of the match. His influence remains central to Steve Cherundolo’s game plan.
LAFC showed maturity in controlling the tempo and patience in waiting for mistakes to exploit. The team earned 25 points away from home this season, losing just four of 17 road matches. Still, there’s one obstacle: their recent history in Texas. Since early 2022, LAFC have only one win in the state and carry a negative goal difference of 13 in those games. Their last road loss before the playoffs also came in Austin, a 1-0 defeat on October 12.