Match Preview - LAFC
Game Info
Kickoff: 7:40pm CT
Watch: Apple TV
Location: Q2 Stadium - Austin, TX
All-Time H2H Record:
Austin FC has a record of 2W-6L-0D all-time versus LAFC.
It has not gone well for Austin FC since their 4-1 whooping of LAFC back in August of 2022. In the three matches following that historic win, Austin FC has conceded 10 goals to LAFC in three lopsided defeats, with an aggregate score of 10-2. This is one of the most lopsided matchups for Austin FC in their short history.
LAFC’s Recent Form:
Well, the long and the short of it is they’re very, very good. LAFC is on a six-game win streak in league play with wins on the road against Orlando, St. Louis, and Atlanta. They’ve also taken care of business at home versus Western Conference opponents Vancouver, Dallas, and Minnesota during this stretch. Over the six game streak they’ve tallied 12 goals and only conceded once. This is a team that has found their form despite a sluggish (for them) start. There’s no other way to put this. LAFC is one of the premier teams in MLS, a dominating force with consistent production and a club the likes of which Austin FC aspires to be.
The roster is filled with talent top to bottom, and they boast one of the league’s most dynamic scoring threats in Denis Bouanga, who has found the net seven times and assisted six others in his last eight contests. Bouanga is a nightmare for any team in this league and applies consistent pressure on an opposing team’s back line. The cornucopia of talent doesn’t stop there with the likes of Mateusz Bogusz, Timothy Tillman, Cristian Olivera, Eduard Atuesta, Aaron Long, Ilie Sanchez, Jesus Murillo, and Ryan Hollingshead all providing quality for the Black and Gold. Oh, and there’s a familiar name in net, 2018 World Cup winner Hugo Lloris.
As a team, LAFC posts the highest average FotMob rating in the league, which is a testament to their depth and quality. They are top five in the league with 1.8 goals scored per game and have the second highest xG total in MLS behind cross-town rivals LA Galaxy. Their coach is versatile and Austin fans have seen first hand how Steve Cherundolo and his staff employ a variety of tactics depending on their opponent to maximize their talent gap between the more pedestrian teams of MLS.
LAFC plays fast and direct. They apply a high press that, when broken, is able to rely on a daunting midfield combination of Sanchez, Tillman, and Atuesta. Those three can not only generate turnovers, but are able to advance the ball to threatening positions towards the likes of Bouanga and Bogusz. The transition is usually quite violent and catches opposing teams off balance and out of their defensive shape, exposing opportunities to pepper opposing keepers with shots. Bradley Scott Stuver will have his hands full with an offensive unit in LAFC that puts over six shots on target per game.
With a game in hand, LAFC sits only a point behind an RSL team that hung five goals on a depleted Austin FC roster just a couple of weeks ago. The task that lays before Austin is a mighty one.
Austin’s Recent Form:
WARNING! If you’re an Austin FC fan reading this, then please be aware that the threat level has been increased to code “red.” Austin FC finds itself in the midst of their worst run of form this season. With just a single win versus lowly Sporting KC over their last five matches and a tumultuous schedule remaining in June with a shorthanded roster, the Verde and Black officially have their backs against the wall.
The offensive struggles of this team have been on display all season long, regardless of how one feels about the success (or lack thereof) of this year’s roster, the inept chance creation in the offensive third (especially on the road) has gone on long enough for it not to be “just a phase,” like dying one’s hair bleach blonde. By the time the ball is kicked on Wednesday, it’ll have been over a full month since Austin FC scored multiple goals in a game. With their lone goal from the last three matches being a garbage time penalty strike from Alex Ring, it’s more than ugly right now.
Where to begin with the putrid offensive play from Austin? Does it start up front with Diego Rubio having fallen off a cliff production wise? Is it the fact that ATX still cannot find ways to get Sebastián Driussi the ball consistently when Dani Pereira is out of the lineup? What about the fact that Austin still struggles to find ways to generate opportunities? Do we need to factor in the recent inexcusable hesitation shown by players in advanced positions with chances to at least put the ball on frame? Or is it as straightforward as players lacking the class to be clinical in their finishing? I believe that all of these factors are contributing to the dismal scoring results.
In Saturday’s matchup against Colorado, we saw multiple chances for players like Diego Rubio, Alex Ring, and Jáder Obrian to put shots on target. Instead, they opted for ill-advised crosses that ultimately yielded nothing of consequence. There was plenty of aimless possession in the middle and defensive thirds of the field that lacked any sign of intention. The limitations on the offensive side of the ball for players like Jhojan Valencia and Alex Ring were on full display, as they both not only struggled with progressive passes, but the ability to control the ball at their feet as well.
We are a frustrating team to watch. On one hand, I constantly clamor for the team to get the ball at the feet of number 10 as much as possible, but without Dani, Seba is forced to drop towards the back line just to get a couple touches. Once that happens, there’s an incredibly limited amount of attacking options he can capitalize on. It’s a huge issue. I’m not sure there is a real winning solution without Dani.
When we do have Pereira and his line-breaking creation available to us, it allows Driussi to linger further up the field, as Dani can beat opposing attackers and distribute the ball to Seba in an advanced position, where he can turn and get his head up to find the likes of Rubio, Obrian, and Wolff. Even at our absolute best, the team has lacked the ability to generate and finish high-quality looks.
As far as the adjustments the coaching staff can make here to try to find a result, I don’t see much. Cherundolo has routinely outclassed Josh Wolff and his staff in the majority of these matchups, especially when it comes to mid-game adjustments. It will take nothing short of a very fortunate, miracle-esque performance to beat LAFC with the combination of tired Verde legs, waning confidence, and limited depth.
While the styles of play this team employs varies drastically between playing at home or on the road, we may have maxed out our potential with some of these early season results against higher-quality clubs. It’s all about survival right now. There’s almost no way to look at the remaining month of June and feel good about our chances at securing points until we travel to 13th place SKC to close out this difficult stretch. Best case scenario we find three points there and stay in touch of the playoff line, until Bukari and Dessler arrive and upgrade the lineup. Even then, points from SKC are far from a guarantee.
Strap in. We’re in for a very bumpy ride.
Injury Report:
ATX - Dani Perreira (OUT - International Duty), Julio Cascante (OUT - International Duty)
LAFC - Lorenzo Dellavalle (OUT - Knee), David Martinez (Questionable - Back), Maxime Chanot (Questionable - Back)
LAFC Players to Watch:
Timothy Tillman - A jack of all trades, Tillman is one of several midfield anchors for LAFC who provides support to their lethal attackers and maximize their high press with speed and tenacious on-ball defense. Once he has the ball he is as skilled of a finisher as he is distributor in the attacking third. It helps when you’re passing to the likes of Bouanga and Bogusz, but the fact remains that Tillman is a multi-faceted, box-to-box, midfielder who does it all.
Ilie Sanchez - If you’re talented and fortunate enough to break LAFC’s press, then you get to deal with Sanchez, who remains one of the best defensive midfielders in the league. He’s a skilled on-ball defender and also shows off his anticipatory defense, as evidenced be by his extremely high rate of tackles won and interceptions had (and, ya know, the eye test). When he does turn the other team over, he gets the ball off his foot with pace and precision, initiating the lethal counter attacking power of LAFC.
Denis Bouanga - One of the best players in the league and last season’s golden boot winner, Bouanga is capable of getting his teammates involved while also punishing opposing keepers with his deft striking ability. With 18 goal contributions on the season, Bouanga is once again proving why he’s one of the premier players in MLS. He thrives in one-on-one situations, utilizing his speed and crafty footwork to create just enough separation to let loose his rocket of a right foot. Attacking up the sidelines where help defense is limited creates advantageous opportunities for LAFC. Jonny G will have his hands absolutely full with this matchup.
Austin’s Keys to the Game:
CJ or Ethan Start? - This may just be grasping at straws, but we have to find a way to provide support to Seba from the defensive midfield when Dani is not in the team. As I talked about earlier in the article, when Dani is not available it creates a ripple effect that impacts what little offensive prowess we have, as Seba is forced to pull further and further back to actually get the ball at his feet. By starting Ethan or CJ at the wing instead of Owen, then sliding Owen to the midfield and Ring to the six, we can ATTEMPT to give Driussi more of a chance to get the ball at his feet in the attacking third. Will it yield goals? I have no idea. But, it is an idea.
Efficiency - The opportunities to score are likely to be few and far between once again for Austin FC on Wednesday night, but all it takes is one good finish to get us on the board. Whether that be by fortune, talent, or some combination of the two, we have to find a way to score and there aren’t a lot of weaknesses in LAFC’s back line. It may take some individual brilliance from Seba, who I hope is more aggressive in looking for his shot.
Predictions:
E - 2-2 Draw
ZG - 3-1 LAFC
