Austin vs LA Galaxy

Q2 Stadium in Texas forms the backdrop for a high-stakes Major League Soccer clash between Austin and La Galaxy.

Seeking back-to-back Western Conference playoff qualifications, Austin head into this must-win contest looking to pick up the slacks after a 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls in midweek MLS action. But playing at home may not necessarily inspire Austin’s resurgence, considering they suffered a disheartening 2-1 home defeat to Portland Timbers in their most recent outing at Q2 Stadium, making it back-to-back home league losses. Those results form part of Austin’s underwhelming six-game winless MLS run (D2, L4). Returning to winning ways is imperative as Josh Wolff’s men hope to haul back a five-point deficit on 9th-placed Dallas. However, LA Galaxy’s visit could complicate things for ‘Los Verdes,’ who have lost their last three MLS H2Hs by an aggregate score of 7-1.

On the other hand, La Galaxy looked to be staring down the barrel of a third consecutive failed attempt to reach the Western Conference playoffs when they found themselves 3-1 down at home to Minnesota United last time out. But Greg Vanney’s men pulled off a sensational second-half comeback to record a 4-3 victory and put a woeful three-game winless MLS run to bed (D2, L1). There’s no time for celebration in the traveling camp, with six points separating them from the playoff line, though a game in hand on 9th-placed Dallas gives them a reason to hope. Playing on the road doesn’t, with Galaxy only winning two of their 14 MLS fixtures on hostile turf this season (D5, L7). They’ve ominously conceded an average of 2.00 goals per game away from home this season.