Los Angeles Football Club vs Austin Fc Picks and Predictions October 29th 2025

Austin FC vs Los Angeles FC MLS Cup Playoffs Game 1 Preview

The Austin FC and Los Angeles FC open their best-of-three MLS Cup playoff series on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Kickoff is set for 10:00 PM ET.

LAFC enter the postseason as one of MLS’s hottest teams, collecting 19 points from their final eight regular-season matches to secure the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. However, Austin FC — who won both regular-season meetings by identical 1-0 scores — remain a difficult puzzle for the Black and Gold to solve.

Line Movement and Odds

Early betting lines have LAFC listed as the clear favorite at home, while the total goals market leans slightly toward the over. Austin’s recent head-to-head dominance adds intrigue for bettors expecting a tighter contest than the odds suggest.

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Los Angeles FC Outlook

Head coach Steve Cherundolo’s squad enters the postseason confident and well-prepared, with tactical “solutions ready” after dropping both meetings to Austin via set pieces. LAFC’s attack has found another gear since Son Heung-Min’s arrival in August — the South Korean star has nine goals in 10 matches and brings world-class finishing to complement Denis Bouanga’s 24-goal campaign.

Both Son and Bouanga missed LAFC’s 1-0 defeat in Austin on October 12 due to international duty, leaving Cherundolo optimistic that his full-strength lineup can finally crack Austin’s back line.

Off the field, emotions are high as Cherundolo has announced his decision to depart the club after the postseason to return to Germany. That emotional factor could provide added motivation for the locker room.

Austin FC Outlook

Austin FC arrive with momentum from a deep U.S. Open Cup run that saw them reach the final before falling to Nashville. Head coach Nico Estévez said that experience — including two road wins — serves as a model for handling playoff intensity.

Austin’s defensive structure has been their greatest strength against LAFC, earning both wins this season from set pieces delivered by the right side. Their compact midfield and counter-attacking balance allow them to frustrate possession-heavy opponents.

The attacking trio of Sebastián Driussi, Emiliano Rigoni, and Gyasi Zardes will be key to generating chances away from home, especially in transition.

Key Matchup / Path to Victory

For LAFC, converting possession into quality chances will define this series. Set-piece defending has been their Achilles’ heel versus Austin, but the inclusion of Son Heung-Min changes spacing and demands defensive attention that could open gaps for Bouanga and Cristian Olivera.

Austin’s path remains discipline and opportunism. If they can slow the game’s tempo, capitalize on set pieces, and frustrate LAFC early, they have the formula to steal another result on the road.

Best Bets and Prediction

LAFC have been dominant at home and boast one of the league’s deepest attacks. Austin’s defensive resilience could keep this close, but the attacking firepower and tactical adjustments from Cherundolo’s side give them the upper hand in Game 1.

Projected Score: Los Angeles FC 3, Austin FC 1
Best Bet: Los Angeles FC Moneyline
Secondary Lean: Over 2.5 Goals

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