The top two sides in the Western Conference of Major League Soccer will battle on Friday in the Texas capital as Austin FC host Los Angeles FC at Q2 Stadium.
Both teams are coming off losses a week ago, with the Verde and Black dropping a 2-1 decision to Minnesota United, while LA had a seven-match winning run in MLS play snapped when the San Jose Earthquakes beat them by that same score.
Match preview
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With eight games remaining and a comfortable 14-point cushion above the playoff line, Josh Wolff has his Austin FC side in poll position to capture their first-ever postseason berth.
Austin need only three more victories to ensure their spot in the knockout phase of this competition, currently sitting six points ahead of Dallas for second place in the Western Conference.
Throughout much of the campaign, the Verde and Black had been shoulder-to-shoulder with LAFC for the Supporters' Shield crown, however, a poor stretch of results recently, winning just two of their previous six MLS affairs, has them nine points behind the Black and Gold in the battle for home field advantage in the postseason.
As if by design, Austin fell behind last Saturday, conceding the opening goal for the 13th time this season, but this time there was no late magic as they lost 2-1 to Minnesota United, ending a six-match unbeaten run away from home.
Coming into game 27 of their season, they are tied with the Black and Gold for the most goals scored in the league this year (55) and barring some massive defensive breakdowns in their final matches of the year, they are likely to improve on their goals-against mark from 2021, having conceded 36 times this year, 20 fewer than they had allowed in their inaugural campaign.
They were the last team to defeat LAFC on their home field, winning 2-1 back on May 18, but Austin have never triumphed against them at Q2 Stadium, losing both fixtures a season ago by a combined score of 4-1.
While there has been a lot of talk about this group's tremendous comebacks this season, the Verde and Black have also let their share of games slip away, squandering 10 points in 2022 when scoring the opening goal.
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For the first time in weeks, Los Angeles FC were held in check by one of the most unlikely of opponents as San Jose, who have conceded the most goals in the Western Conference (54), only allowed one shot on target to the Black and Gold.
That was also the first time in which the Supporters' Shield leaders had allowed multiple goals in a road fixture since a 2-0 defeat to the Colorado Rapids on May 14, as LA have only dropped four away matches this year.
After missing the postseason for the first time in their history a year ago, the front office made some sweeping changes to the roster and staff, which have paid immediate dividends as LA are currently the only team in MLS to be assured of a postseason berth.
While boasting tremendous depth in the attack with 15 different players tallying at least once in the regular season, Steve Cherundolo has been able to depend on a solid defensive setup, combined with excellent goalkeeping, with LAFC conceding the second-fewest goals (26) to date in MLS.
In 2021 they saw their regular season points record bested by the New England Revolution (73), but the Black and Gold are currently positioned to reclaim that record, needing six wins from their final eight matches.
Virtually every new face that has come into this squad throughout the season has fit in perfectly on this team, who have shown tremendous continuity despite adding multiple players at different portions of the campaign.
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Team News
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Austin striker Sebastian Driussi has contributed at least one goal in nine consecutive MLS affairs, picking up his league-leading 18th of the year last week, while Diego Fagundez remains on nine assists and Maximiliano Urruti is second on the team with seven strikes.
Fagundez and Ruben Gabrielsen tallied for the Verde and Black in their victory against LAFC back in May, while Daniel Pereira was their best ball distributor a week ago, completing 48 of his 49 passes in a holding midfield role alongside Alexander Ring.
Washington Corozo will be questionable for this encounter because of a problem in his right hip, Hector Jimenez remains out with a pulled left groin and Freddy Kleemann is not available due to a left knee injury.
Kwadwo Opoku tallied his seventh of the season for LA in their loss to the Quakes, moving into a tie for third on the team beside Jose Cifuentes, while Kellyn Acosta picked up his second assist of 2022.
Gareth Bale has yet to start a match for his new team since joining them from Real Madrid, llie Sanchez will be suspended after receiving two yellow cards in the second half last week, while Carlos Vela has two goals in his previous three home fixtures, currently, four back of Cristian Arango for the team lead.
LA have rested Giorgio Chiellini in three straight games after he was replaced by Eddie Segura in the second half of their 4-1 triumph versus Real Salt Lake, and Julian Gaines will be listed as questionable for this weekend with a pelvis injury.
Austin FC possible starting lineup:
Stuver; Gallagher, Gabrielsen, Cascante, Lima; Pereira, Ring; Fagundez, Driussi, Hoesen; Urruti
Los Angeles FC possible starting lineup:
Crepeau; Palacios, Ibeagha, Murillo, Hollingshead; Cifuentes, Acosta, Blessing; Opoku, Arango, Vela
We say: Austin FC 2-2 Los Angeles FC
These sides have fought hard throughout the year as both have been neck and neck in a variety of statistical categories.
We anticipate a hotly contested battle with plenty of chances on both ends, and given the quality that each side possesses, at least a couple of those chances should find the back of the net, though we do not expect either to hold onto a lead for long.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
