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LAFC came to Texas hoping to extend their best run of the season. Instead, they left with their seventh scoreless performance of 2025.
A late header from Owen Wolff — Austin’s first and only real chance of the match — sealed a frustrating 1-0 loss for a Black & Gold side that looked disciplined but directionless.
Here are five stats that defined the match — and what they reveal ahead of Decision Day in Colorado next week.
1. Possession: LAFC 55% → Control Without Punch
LAFC dominated possession, logging 529 passes at 88% accuracy — their third-highest total in the final third this season. But it never translated into danger.
Austin sat in a compact block and dared LAFC to create something. They couldn’t. Los Verdes defended with all they had and the discipline of a Nico Estévez squad, absorbing any pressure from LAFC and hitting late on a set piece. It was a tactical mirror of LAFC’s own blueprint — and it worked.
📊 Most possession since LAFC’s 1-1 draw at Dallas. Same result: no rhythm, no spark.
2. Corners: LAFC 1 — Austin 3 → No Sustained Pressure
In games like this, set pieces matter. LAFC managed just one corner — despite 15 crosses.
That follows a concerning trend (just 3 corners vs Toronto), and it speaks to a deeper issue: without width, unpredictability, or their top attackers, LAFC becomes easier to nullify. Austin’s back line — anchored by a sharp Brad Stuver — barely flinched.
📉 LAFC: 4 corners in last 2 matches (season avg: ~5.1)
3. Expected Goals: LAFC 0.2 — Austin 0.5 → Few Chances, One Finish
Austin coach Nico Estévez bet that LAFC’s attack would stall without Bouanga and Son. He was right.
The Black & Gold posted 0.2 xG, their lowest output of the season. Austin only generated 0.5, but Wolff’s lone high-quality chance (0.29 xG) was enough to secure three points.
🎯 Combined xG: under 1.0 — tactical, tight, and forgettable.
4. Aerial Duels: LAFC 10 — Austin 7 → Winning the Air, Losing the Moment
LAFC won more aerial duels and logged solid defensive numbers:
- 15 duels won
- 12 tackles
- 3 interceptions
But one moment — a late corner — unraveled it all. The team lost focus in a key late moment, something we’ve seen before (vs Portland, earlier this year). And until LAFC finds a midfield link between possession and penetration, these moments will keep recurring.
🧠 Defensive effort was there. Offensive execution wasn’t.
No Bouanga. No Son. No Spark.
Let’s not overthink it: without Denis Bouanga (24 goals) and Son Heung-min (10), LAFC looked flat.
- 5 shots
- 2 on target
- 0 big chances
- 0 energy
Even with Jailson showing early signs of verticality in midfield, the spark faded. His sub, Frankie Amaya, made little impact — a sign that the bench still lacks creativity and when the two stars are contained, this team can run into issues against compact defenses.
Coach Steve Cherundolo has won plenty in LA, but the team’s dependency on star power is hard to ignore. That’s not a sin in MLS. It’s the reality of a league built on Designated Players. But when your two best are missing — on short rest, after a weather-rescheduled midweek game — you’re exposed.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the league, Messi returned from Argentina duty to drop two goals on Atlanta, reclaiming the Golden Boot lead from Bouanga. That’s what contenders do.
And with the swing, Miami now has a 3 point lead on LAFC in the Supporters' Shield race.
A reminder that MLS is unforgiving — altitude, travel, weather, and short rest all compound.
Also, that LAFC’s midfield still lacks a ball-progressing engine without its stars - Amaya cannot seem to be able to deliver. David Martinez has lost a lot of space giving his inconsistency as an offensive player.
The arrival of Son Heung-min also all but thwarted the usage rate for Nathan Ordaz. It's worrisome because he'd been a regular contributor, now splitting time with newcomer Andy Moran and Martinez up front and getting banged up in International play.
A reminder that playoff soccer is about who’s healthy, focused, and makes fewer mistakes. Austin, San Diego and Dallas showed us, LAFC is beatable, if you can frustrate its attackers.
What's Next for LAFC during Decision Day?
Bouanga and Son will be back. But next up is Colorado, on the road, at altitude, against a desperate Rapids side looking to squeeze in the playoffs and save coach Chris Armas from a lackluster season.
Decision Day is coming. LAFC is already in — but if they want to go far, they’ll need more than control.
They’ll need teeth.
