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Austin, TX
Austin FC bows out of MLS playoffs after 4-1 loss to LAFC
AUSTIN (KXAN) — In a match with a combined 27 fouls and eight yellow cards, visiting LAFC overwhelmed Austin FC 4-1 on Sunday at Q2 Stadium, advancing to the Western Conference semifinals of the MLS playoffs.
With the victory, LAFC claimed the best-of-3 first-round series 2-0 following their 2-1 win Oct. 29 in Los Angeles.
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Actor Matthew McConaughey, foreground, acknowledges the fans as he walks a sideline before Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs between Los Angeles FC and Austin FC, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Celebrations take place before Los Angeles FC and Austin FC compete in Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Austin FC midfielder Owen Wolff (33) battles for possession over Los Angeles FC defender Ryan Porteous (5) during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Austin FC midfielder Myrto Uzuni (10) reacts after missing a penally kick against Los Angeles FC during the first half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Austin FC defender Brendan Hines-Ike (4) celebrates after midfielder Daniel Pereira (8) scored a penalty kick against Los Angeles FC during first half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Los Angeles FC forward Jeremy Ebobisse (17) celebrates a goal against Austin FC with defender Sergi Palencia (14) and forward Son Heung-Min (7) during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Los Angeles FC forward Jeremy Ebobisse (17) scores a goal against Austin FC during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Los Angeles FC forward Jeremy Ebobisse (17) celebrates a goal against Austin FC during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Los Angeles FC midfielder Andy Moran (19) and Austin FC defender Žan Kolmanič (23) battle for the ball during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Los Angeles FC forward Son Heung-Min (7) looks to take control of the ball against Austin FC during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga (99) drives between Austin FC defender Julio Cascante (18), defender Brendan Hines-Ike (4) and defender Guilherme Biro (29) during the second half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Austin FC midfielder Daniel Pereira scores a penalty kick against Los Angeles FC during first half of Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Q2 Stadium is viewed before Game 2 in the first round of MLS soccer’s Western Conference playoffs Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)
By the time Austin FC’s Dani Pereira converted a penalty kick in the waning moment of first-half stoppage time, LAFC went into the locker room up 3-1 and in full control of the match.
Son Heung-min, the former Tottenham Hotspur captain who joined LAFC in August, opened the scoring in the 21st minute by beating Ilie Sanchez with a nasty stepover, and then he fired a shot past Brad Stuver from just outside the 6-yard box.
Denis Bouanga bagged a pair of goals in the first half to build LAFC’s insurmountable advantage. His first came four minutes after Son’s opening marker and was his 100th goal across all competitions with the club. His second goal added salt to the wound for Austin to make it 3-0 in the 44th minute. It came after LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris stopped a Myrto Uzuni penalty kick attempt in the 39th minute.
LAFC’s Jeremy Ebobisse entered the match for Son in the 88th minute and, in five minutes, added another tally. He fired a left-footed shot past Stuver’s sliding boot to put an exclamation point on the final match of the season in Austin.
LAFC outshot Austin 17-7, including 5-4 on target, and Austin was whistled for offside three times.
It was the first time since 2022 that Austin made the MLS playoffs. They entered the postseason as the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference.
Coupled with its playoff appearance and runner-up finish in the U.S. Open Cup, Austin took a step in the right direction under first-year head coach Nico Estevez.
LAFC will face the Vancouver Whitecaps in the conference semifinals.