Owen Wolff scored on an 83rd-minute header for his team-lead-tying sixth goal of the season to lift Austin FC to a 1-0 victory over visiting LAFC on Sunday evening.
Brad Stuver made two saves to keep his ninth clean sheet and help Austin (13-12-8, 47 points) snap a three-match losing run in all competitions and halt LAFC’s six-match winning run.
The victory also assured a sweep of the season series and a sixth-place finish in the Western Conference, which could set up a Round 1 MLS Cup Playoff series against an LAFC side (17-8-8, 59 points) that’s currently in third.
If that materializes, it will have a considerably different feel. Austin striker Myrto Uzuni, who is tied with Wolff on six goals, missed Sunday’s clash to international duty, as did LAFC’s top two attackers, Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga.
LAFC can still finish as high as second and as low as fourth in the West, but Sunday’s loss, coupled with Vancouver’s win, means the Black-and-Gold can no longer top the West standings.
Wolff’s decisive moment came on just Austin’s second effort on target via a corner kick from the right.
Zan Kolmanic’s inswinging service came toward the near post, skimmed the head of LAFC defender Eddie Segura and then continued toward the back post.
That’s where Wolff met it, sneaking in front of a defender to guide home a header into an open goal from close range.
Each team only had one shot during a disjointed first half, with LAFC’s arriving in a more dangerous position in the 41st minute. Jeremy Ebobisse couldn’t quite work out his timing as he approached a bouncing ball near the penalty spot and sent the ensuing effort arcing over the crossbar.
The teams traded their first shots on target in the 58th and 59th minutes, with LAFC’s Andrew Moran first forcing Stuver into action before Lloris denied Gallagher’s effort on the other end.
In the 81st minute, LAFC defender Nkosi Tafari surged up the right flank and forced Stuver into another stop at his near post. Two minutes later, Wolff finally came through to break the deadlock.
–Field Level Media
