Second-Place Austin FC Set to Host Leaders LAFC in Nationally Televised Match

August 25, 2022 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Austin FC News Release

Q2 Stadium, home of Austin FC
(Austin FC)

In one of the most highly anticipated matches of the 2022 Major League Soccer season, Austin FC will host league-leaders Los Angeles FC at Q2 Stadium in a matchup between the top two teams in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference. The match will be nationally televised in English on ESPN, and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes domestically, as well as 83 countries around the world.

Match Storylines

MVP Front-Runner

Austin FC midfielder and Designated Player Sebastián Driussi is a candidate for the MLS MVP award this season, leading the league with 18 goals scored. He has scored in five consecutive matches and has contributed to at least one goal in a league-best nine consecutive matches.

Driussi has been named to the MLS Team of the Week a league-best 11 times this season, has been named MLS Player of the Month twice (April and July), and started for the MLS team in the MLS vs. Liga MX All-Star game earlier this month.

Austin FC’s goals-per-match average has more than doubled since Driussi joined the team just over a year ago.

Star Power

In addition to Driussi, LAFC boasts star power of its own. Mexican international Carlos Vela, as well as recently-arrived winger Gareth Bale and defender Giorgio Chiellini, bring experience competing for some of the world’s top clubs, and will draw viewers from all over the globe.

Last Time Out

With goals from Ruben Gabrielsen and Diego Fagundez, Austin FC defeated LAFC 2-1 on May 18 in the only previous meeting between the sides this season. Austin is still the only team to beat LAFC at Banc of California Stadium in 2022.

Heavyweight Clash

LAFC and Austin rank first and second in the MLS Western Conference, respectively. An Austin win on Friday would take the Verde & Black within six points of LAFC in the race for the MLS Supporters’ Shield, a trophy awarded to the best team in the MLS regular season.

Rigoni’s Arrival

New midfielder and Designated Player Emiliano Rigoni arrived in Austin earlier this week, and is eligible to make his Austin FC debut as early as Friday’s match against LAFC. Earlier in his career with Zenit St. Petersburg, Rigoni played with fellow Austin FC midfielder and Designated Player Sebastián Driussi.

Arrive Early

A large crowd is anticipated for Friday night’s match, and fans are encouraged to arrive early to avoid long waits to enter the stadium. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. CT.

Austin FC boasts MLS’…