Los Angeles FC looks to have a better defensive show when they return to MLS playing with a home competition against Austin FC on Saturday afternoon.
LAFC (2-1-0, 6 points) was often exposed in a 5-2 road loss to Seattle Sounders last weekend after beating shutdowns in their first two MLS matches in the campaign.
When LAFC returned to Tonhöjden Tuesday in Concacaf Champions Cup Play, they lost 2-1 to the Columbus crew. But they advanced to the quarter finals due to a 4-2 aggregated score.
Denis Bouanga’s goal in the sixth minute of the second half stop prevented LAFC from becoming empty.
LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo was very disappointed with the show and was not happy with his players.
“It’s not my job as a coach to motivate the players,” Cherundolo said. “They are professional athletes and motivation must come from within.”
Austin FC (1-2-0, 3 points) has played three 1-0 matches and lost the last two. They fell at home against Colorado Rapids last weekend.
Austin band almost the match late in the first half, but Myrto Uzuni’s headline hit the cross beam.
Now the level of competition in the eyes of Austin coach Nico Estevez is increasing when he sees LAFC as a tough team to meet.
“We play against one of the best teams in the entire league,” Estevez said. “One of the teams that is consistent and fights hard. … they are a big team in the league.
“For us we can win (against) all teams in this league, but we have to do very well.”
Getting the crime unspoken would be a welcome thing against the powerful LAFC squad.
But just seeing where his team prices appeal to Estevez, who is in his first season as Austin’s coach.
“We can challenge ourselves,” Estevez said. “We can see where we are and we go there and compete and do our best.”
Last season, LAFC noted a 2-0 home victory over the Austin in the Leagues Cup on August 7, and the other two meetings ended in 1-1 bands.
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