Los Angeles FC will look to extend the fabulous start to their season and add to their clean sheet streak in MLS play when they visit Austin FC on Saturday in a Western Conference match.
LAFC (4-0-0, 12 points) have outscored their opponents 8-0 while winning their first four matches of the season and continuing its best start to a season.
Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has stopped all 15 shots he’s faced in league play over a 360-plus minutes scoreless stretch. Lloris has amassed a dozen clean sheets in both of the past two campaigns and is well on his way to surpassing that mark.
The Black & Gold’s depth and stamina will be tested as they travel to Austin after a 2-0 home win over St. Louis on March 14. Mathieu Choiniere made his first MLS start of the season and found the net twice in the second half to help clinch the victory.
“The coaches give us all the confidence we need to move forward,” Choiniere said. “When you train something, and you get that touch, you get that feeling every single time. In training, we’re spending time on this. When it comes to games, it’s just natural.”
LAFC followed that victory with a 2-1 road win over Costa Rican side L.D. Alajuelense 2-1 on Tuesday night in the deciding second leg of a two-match, round-of-16 series in Concacaf Champions Cup. David Martinez, 20, came off the bench to score from well outside the box in stoppage time to send the Black & Gold into the quarterfinals of the competition.
Austin FC (1-2-1, 4 points) return home after dropping two straight matches on the road, most recently a 2-1 loss at Real Salt Lake on March 14. Jon Bell found the net in the 18th minute for the only goal for the Verde while keeper Brad Stuver made seven saves in a stirring performance in goal to keep Austin in the match.
“We created enough chances in the first half (against RSL) but in the second half, we didn’t do a good job with the ball,” Austin coach Nico Estevez said this week. “We have to be brave and have the ball more and then stick to the game plan. We did not have that patience and that thought in the second half. But it’s true that we need to provide more [from open play].”
The Verde have been hamstrung by the injury-created absences of playmaking midfielder Owen Wolff and striker Brandon Vazquez, both of whom will remain on the sidelines for Saturday’s match.
-Field Level Media
