LAFC suffers rare loss at home to Austin FC
For the first time this season, the Los Angeles Football Club failed to earn points at home, dropping a 2-1 result to Austin FC Wednesday at Banc of California Stadium.
Despite playing like the superior team off the opening whistle, LAFC suffered its eighth loss in 69 matches at home since its debut season in 2018.
The fall began when it failed to clear a corner kick in the 13th minute.
A giveaway by Diego Palacios, LAFC’s most consistent performer on the defensive line, allowed Austin midfielder Jhojan Valencia space to pass the ball to defender Ruben Gabrielsen.
Inside the box, the Norwegian curled a shot that flew past LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau for his second goal of the year.
Converting its only shot on goal of the first half meant Austin’s go-ahead goal marked was the eighth time in league play this year
that LAFC would need to come back to earn points.
For the second consecutive match, after a 2-0 defeat in Colorado, it was unable to do so.
LAFC created chances throughout the first half but could not match Austin before heading to the locker room.
The MLS leaders invaded the visitor’s side of the field and tested Austin’s ability to build out of the back. Controlling the tempo and space allowed LAFC opportunities to finish quality chances against Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver.
Playing for the first time since suffering a laceration on his right knee at the end of April, Stuver made three saves in the 17th minute alone, topping Danny Musovski, who made his first regular season start, denying Latif Blessing and
Carlos Vela in quick succession.
Early on Blessing, the lively 25-year-old Ghanian midfielder, surpassed Diego Rossi to become LAFC’s MLS regular season minutes leader. He ended his night with 8,900 minutes after being forced off the field with an injured right leg prior to halftime.
The Black & Gold pushed for an equalizer but Austin gave itself insurance in the 80th minute.
A ball over the top of the LAFC backline found midfielder Diego Fagundez. The MLS assist leader kept the ball at his feet and led a three-on-two attack toward the LAFC goal. Rather than trying to find a teammate, the Uruguayan took what LAFC gave him and calmly buried the ball in the back of the net to give Austin a 2-0 advantage
The visitor’s only two shots on goal held up, even when LAFC got a look at the match when Vela converted a penalty kick in the 86th minute.