Austin FC upsets LAFC on home field.

You can’t blame LAFC for feeling a little fatigued.

Playing its eighth match in 26 days, LAFC went into the FIFA break with not much left in tis tank. Austin FC’s caught LAFC off guard with an early second half goal from Guilherme Biro, settled into a disciplined defensive effort and the end result was a 1-0 upset win at BMO Stadium.

“I think fatigue is clear to see,” LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo said. “It’s not an excuse, nor do we want to change that. We prefer playing lots of games in multiple competitions. This is the challenge that we took on and it
is a challenge. It’s physically very demanding for our players, and mentally as well. It’s there, but again, we like that and we love that. It’s not an excuse, but I think it’s very clear to see.”

Austin surprised the home side in the 12th minute. Austin had a corner, Owen Wolff sent the corner kick into the LAFC penalty area and Biro headed a ball past keeper Hugo Lloris into the back net to give the visitors the lead. LAFC had two good chances to equalize following Biro’s goal. The first came in the 14th minute as Cengiz Under dribbled down his right side into the penalty area, Under took the ball to the end line, played a ball into the six-yard box, the pass was cut off, but it went high into the ball, LAFC’s Sergi Palencia eyed the ball, wound up and one-timed a left-footed volley on target, but it hit the side netting.

Another chance for LAFC came from Under himself in the 26th minute, as Timothy Tillman intercepted a pass, played Under into the penalty area, and Under curled a dangerous ball to towards the back post, but the ball just missed said back post. Austin took the lead into the half, and LAFC’s best chance to tie the match came in the 60th minute, as Under played a ball to Denis Bouanga inside the penalty area, Bouanga chested the ball down, which enabled him to lose his defender and thus free him up for a shot on goal, but Stuver denied Bouanga ont he chance. As the match wore on, the combination of Austin FC’s effort and fatigue over its long stretch of matches were having an effect on LAFC.

“I feel really good right now and I want to play better day by day,” Under said of his play. “The intention was so good in here and I’ve met very good, nice people in here as well. My only focus is to get better and better day by day and be good for the team.”

Saturday’s also featured a pre-game ceremony, as LAFC welcomed Austin FC midfielder Ilie Sanchez back to BMO Stadium. Sanchez played three seasons with LAFC, with his zenith with the club coming in November of 2022, as he scored the penalty kick that won LAFC the MLS Cup that season.

“Ilie is a great guy, we all love him and respect him here – wish him nothing but the best,” LAFC defender Aaron Long saif of Illie’s return. “In terms of the result, obviously not what we wanted. Had a ton of the ball tonight, we just couldn’t find a way to get that first goal.”

Fortunately for LAFC’s it won’t have to think about the CONCACAF Champions Cup until the first week of April. LAFC will actually have a full week to prepare for it next match, which will be Saturday at Sporting Kansas City.