LAFC, Austin FC Aim to Bounce Back in Key Western Clash
Los Angeles FC and Austin FC will both try to recover from recent setbacks when they meet Saturday night in Texas for a crucial Western Conference showdown.
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These clubs met earlier this season, with Austin earning a 1-0 road win in March—a rare triumph for a team still battling offensive inconsistency. Now, both sides sit on 26 points in a congested playoff race.
LAFC (7-5-5) returns to league play after a busy stretch that included three matches in the FIFA Club World Cup, where they went 0-2-1 in the group stage. That international run was followed by a 1-0 MLS loss to Vancouver last Sunday, which ended their nine-match unbeaten streak in league competition.
The Vancouver match marked the debut of winger Javairo Dilrosun, who joined from Club América. While he showed flashes, head coach Steve Cherundolo knows there’s more to come.
“He has great flashes, and he’s still learning in our system,” Cherundolo said. “We’re getting there … I still think he can do much more for us.”
Denis Bouanga continues to lead the line for LAFC with eight goals and five assists this season, anchoring an attack that ranks among the more efficient in the West.
Austin (7-8-5), meanwhile, is coming off a flat 2-0 loss in Seattle that snapped their two-game win streak. The Verde managed just one shot on target and couldn’t replicate their recent sharpness in the final third.
“We know we are better team than we showed against Seattle,” Austin coach Nico Estevez said. “The response from the guys has been great … We are ready to approach this game against LAFC.”
Scoring has been a challenge for Austin all season. They’ve netted a league-low 15 goals in 2025 and have been shut out eight times. With three matches in a week—including a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal on Tuesday—depth and form will be key in this stretch.
This match carries weight not just for the standings but also for those looking to wager. With both clubs level on points and pushing for playoff separation, now is the time to lean on MLS predictions and picks for value plays and matchup edges.
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