LAFC takes Game 1 against Austin FC

The Los Angeles Football Club began its 2025 MLS playoff run on Wednesday night. The Black and Gold secured a 2-1 win in the first game of a best-of-three series against Austin FC.

LAFC opened the scoring in the 20th minute thanks to fullback Ryan Hollingshead. Hollingshead found space inside the penalty area and cut past one defender before hitting a low cross across the face of the goal, which deflected off Austin FC defender Brendan Hines-Ike and into the back of the net.

With this goal, Hollingshead is now the all-time leader for postseason goals by a defender in the MLS.

The only real chance for the rest of the first half came in the 35th minute, after LAFC forward Son Heung-Min dribbled into the penalty area, slipping past multiple Austin defenders, and fired a left-footed shot directly at Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver.

Other than this chance, LAFC saw a two-on-three counterattacking opportunity between winger Denis Bouanga and Son, but the sequence didn’t lead to anything and concluded the opening 45 minutes.

Austin FC found an equalizer in the 63rd minute through defender Jon Gallagher. LAFC center back Nkosi Tafari attempted to clear a cross away from the middle of the penalty area, but his header was blocked by Austin FC forward Myrto Uzuni, who threaded the ball to midfielder Owen Wolff. Wolff played a quick pass to Gallagher, who slotted his shot into the bottom-right corner of the goal, tying the score at 1-1.

Young Salvadorian forward Nathan Ordaz was substituted on for LAFC in the 74th minute and gave LAFC the lead five minutes later.

Son collected a ball near midfield and ran at the heart of Austin’s defense before finding Bouanga along the left side of the pitch. Bouanga’s shot was deflected by a sliding defender, past the outstretched arms of Austin’s goalkeeper. This allowed Ordaz to race in at the back post and provide the final touch necessary to make it 2-1 in favor of the Black and Gold, and secure the win in the first game of the series.

This goal makes Ordaz the first LAFC homegrown player to score in the playoffs. Ordaz is also the first homegrown player in the franchise’s history to sign a contract extension following an initial first-team contract.

“I’ve been part of the team that won the championship, that was my first year, but I didn’t really help, so I think helping in playoffs means a lot,” said Ordaz in a press conference following the victory. “The most important thing is winning the trophy.”

LAFC will play its second game of the series in Austin on Sunday, Nov. 2. The Black and Gold will look to close out the series and continue its MLS Cup journey. If the side were to advance to the next round, they would face the winner of the FC Dallas against The Vancouver Whitecaps series.