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Our Austin FC vs LAFC predicted lineups put the spotlight on the hosts due to the importance of this Major League Soccer (MLS) clash at the Q2 Stadium for their ambitions of making it to the MLS playoff round. Los Verdes will treat this like a final and bolster their chances of gaining a top-nine spot.
Austin FC vs LAFC Predicted Lineups and Team News
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Austin FC needs to win their next two games to even have a chance of making it into the playoff round. Josh Wolff’s side ended an eight-game winless streak in their 3-0 win over DC United recently to at least keep their playoff hopes alive. However, they’re in desperate need of two wins in as many remaining league games and hope the teams above them slip up to save them from embarrassment.
LAFC have already qualified for the playoff round and know they can’t finish anywhere above second place in the league stages. They’ve only won one of their last five games and need to win their next two games to have a chance of a second-place finish. Moreover, The Falcons will want to gain some winning momentum heading into the playoff stages and end their rivals’ playoff dreams in the clash.
Team News: Austin FC
Austin are struggling with some injury issues within their squad. Defender Zan Kolmanic is out for a long time due to a nasty knee injury. Fortunately for Los Verdes, their influential midfielder Sebastien Driussi was able to play through pain, and powered their win over DC United.
Along with him, Maxi Urruti and Gyasi Zardes are also not fully fit and recovering from injury issues, but all three should be ready for this upcoming clash. Wolff will need to set them up perfectly in the Austin FC vs LAFC predicted lineups to defeat the intimidating LAFC side and maintain their winning run towards the home stretch of the league campaign.
Austin FC Predicted Lineup
Brad Stuver (GK), Jon Gallagher, Julio Cascante, Leo Väisänen, Owen Wolff, Jhojan Valencia , Sebastien Driussi, Alexander Ring, Ethan Finley, Emiliano Rigoni, Gyasi Zardes
Team News: LAFC
The Falcons are missing some important squad players for this game. Midfielder Kellyn Acosta is still out with an injury issue and will be fighting hard to be back in time for the MLS playoff games at least. Young striker Christian Torres is also injured and is likely to miss this clash.
Steve Cherundolo might look to change up his side from the last game knowing how bad injuries at this point of the season could be. However, he’s likely to play a strong team in the Austin FC vs LAFC predicted lineups because of how a win can end their rivals Austin’s momentum and hopes of making it past the league stage.
LAFC Predicted Lineup
Maxime Crépeau (GK), Ryan Hollingshead, Jesús Murillo, Aaron Long, Diego Palacios, Illie, Timothy Tillman, Mateusz Bogusz, Mario Gonzalez, Denis Bouanga, Carlos Vela
Can Gyasi Zardes inspire Austin FC to big win vs LAFC?
Gyasi Zardes is likely to come back into the Austin FC starting lineup in the big game against LAFC. The 32-year-old is his side’s joint-second-highest scorer this season in the MLS and will need to fire on all cylinders to torment the Falcons.
He might have a little bit extra space to manoeuvre around in the opposition area because of how busy defenders will be with keeping Driussi quiet. That can give Zardes the perfect opportunity to sneak into the dangerous areas in the box and get at the end of chances.
The 32-year-old is a clinical goal-scorer who boasts impressive finishing skills and will need to put them to use against LAFC. Austin FC needs to be ruthless to outwit their opponents on Saturday. For that, the experienced striker has to use every trick up his sleeve to cause havoc on the pitch.
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