Saturday, March 15 | 12:45 p.m. PT
🏟: BMO Stadium - Los Angeles, CA
đź–Ą: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, FOX, FOX Deportes
đź“»: 710 AM ESPN, ESPN LA App, and KFWB 980 AM La Mera Mera
Los Angeles Football Club welcomes Austin FC to BMO Stadium Saturday afternoon for each club’s fourth game of the MLS regular season. The match marks LAFC’s return to its home pitch after playing two demanding matches in Ohio and Washington over the last week.
It also marks the return to Los Angeles of Austin midfielder Ilie Sánchez, who represented LAFC honorably, on the field and off, as an MLS All Star in 2022, as the club’s captain in 2024, and as a community leader and humanitarian during the three seasons he wore the black and gold.
HOME AGAIN
LAFC’s last home match at BMO Stadium was its convincing 3-0 victory over the Columbus Crew on March 4 in the first leg of the teams' Round-of-16 matchup in Concacaf Champions Cup. LAFC completed its two-leg defeat of the Crew this past Tuesday, with a 2-1 loss at Lower.com Stadium in Columbus that finalized a 4-2 aggregate-goal advantage and advancement to a Quarterfinal date with Inter Miami CF in early April.
New Designated Player Cengiz Ünder, who joined the club last week on loan from Fenerbahçe S.K. of Turkey’s Süper Lig, made his debut in Columbus and assisted on LAFC’s goal, a 96th-minute strike from Denis Bouanga. For Bouanga, an MLS MVP finalist in 2024, it was his third goal in his last three games in all competitions.
LAFC has not allowed a goal at home in four matches at BMO Stadium this season. The Black & Gold stands 2W-1L-0T overall in MLS play, while Austin is 1W-2L-0T.
AUSTIN UPDATE
Last weekend Austin FC fell at home, 1-0, to the Colorado Rapids despite holding the edge in possession, shots on target, and expected goals.
Brandon Vazquez and Myrto Uzuni, two goalscoring forwards who joined Austin in the offseason from Liga MX and Spain's LaLiga2, respectively, give the Verde & Black a two-headed threat at the top of their attack. Calm and consistent, perennial All Star candidate Brad Stuver mans the Austin net, as he has for almost every match since the club joined MLS in 2021. Stuver has sat out only four of the 136 regular-season matches Austin has played in its history.
All three of Austin’s games this season have had 1-0 scorelines, with Austin getting the better of Sporting KC by that score before losing in Portland and at home last week to the Rapids.
THE SERIES
LAFC owns a 6W-2L-2T record against Austin in MLS play, including a 3-0 win in Los Angeles in the 2022 Western Conference Final. LAFC is unbeaten in its last six games against Austin FC in all competitions. Last season the clubs played to a 1-1 draw in both of their regular-season meetings.
David MartĂnez scored his first goal at BMO Stadium in MLS play in these sides’ most recent encounter last September. Winger Jáder Obrian scored Austin’s only goal in both draws. Sandwiched between those two stalemates, LAFC defeated Austin 2-0 at BMO Stadium in Leagues Cup 2024, with Bouanga scoring the opener in that match.
THE BLACK & GOLD CAN WIN IF
It takes advantage of the restful week ahead by starting its first-choice eleven. LAFC has played every three or four days since its 2025 opener on Feb. 18, rotating its roster while toggling back and forth between Concacaf Champions Cup and MLS regular-season matches. This Austin matchup presents a chance to rest its depth pieces and focus on seizing three points before a well-deserved week off.
THE VERDE CAN WIN IF
Obrian gets loose. The swift Colombian attacker, who signed a contract extension with Austin last fall, did damage to LAFC in 2024 with a goal in each of their regular-season matchups, but he has only managed a single shot on target this year while logging 72, 62, and 19 minutes, respectively, in Austin’s three games so far. His team’s top returning scorer, Obrian scored eight goals in all competitions in 2024.
The 2025 LAFC Secondary Kit
LAFC’s 2025 Secondary Kit is regal, refined, and designed to be worn by players and supporters who expect success.
