Foreign Exchange: Three questions for the Austin FC-LAFC playoff series with Justin Ruderman
You know LAFC. But you don't really know this version of LAFC. Let's address that with someone who knows the team well.
It'll be the last match of the best-of-three series openers, but it's getting closer. Wednesday night, Austin FC travels to BMO Stadium to face a familiar foe to open its 2025 playoff journey — which, according to the oddsmakers and a lot of national pundits, might be just two or three games long.
Verde has played LAFC twice in the regular season over the past five years, including the team's first-ever regular-season match in 2021. They've famously played in the Western Conference finals in 2022. They've even played in a Leagues Cup Round of 32 matchup. Lifetime, Austin's 4w 7L 2D against the Black & Gold, but two of those wins have come in 2025 regular-season contests.
But the team will look a little different than even the international break-altered version of LAFC that came to Q2 Stadium 15 days ago.
To help us sort out this new, Son Heung-minified LAFC, we reached out to our former Striker colleague and LAFC font of knowledge Justin Ruderman, who was kind enough to entertain three questions.
Before we get there, though, the excellent Ben Wright of SixOneFive Soccer has put together this league-wide MLS survey, and asked me to contribute the Austin FC section of the survey. So, when you click Austin FC under the "What team do you support?" question, you'll go to a short survey that I made. Please check it out; I think you'll enjoy it. I'll share results in a future Verde All Day article.
To the questions!
Why is the Son-Bouanga partnership working so well?
Quality, chemistry and tactics.
The first point is obvious. Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-min are arguably the two best pure wingers in MLS and they play on the same team. That quality is always going to give you goals. But what has the pair clicking so well is the instant personal chemistry.
Prior to Son’s arrival, the biggest criticism about Bouanga from within the fanbase (there aren’t many) was his selfishness in front of goal. If he had it in his mind to shoot, he would, even if a better option were available.
Not anymore. Instead of selfishly chasing a second Golden Boot on the breakaway in the closing minutes against Real Salt Lake, Bouanga laid off an assist for Son to complete his first Black & Gold hat trick. Even the South Korean was surprised, but showed his appreciation by imitating Bouanga’s iconic flip celebration with an adorable somersault, followed suit by Bouanga who added Son’s signature hand gesture to the picture-perfect moment.
It summed the duo up perfectly. They just feel like two kids on the playground who happen to be a bit better (and faster) than the rest of their classmates.
Steve Cherundolo also deserves some credit here. Unwaveringly pragmatic, Cherundolo has shifted away from LAFC’s typical 4-3-3 since Son’s arrival, initially opting for a 3-4-3 with Son at the No. 9 before landing on a 5-3-2 to give Bouanga and Son free rein in the final third with space to run into. Cherundolo lauds his team’s tactical adaptability, but I’d be surprised not to see a 5-3-2 in Round One. It has worked like a charm.
If you were an opposing coach coming up with a game plan to score against LAFC’s defense, are there particular players you’d focus on, or are there strategies that can work to break down the whole unit?
Far be it from me to advise Nico Estévez after doing the league double over LAFC with 1-0 wins home and away this season, but it’s no coincidence that both of those goals came from corner kicks. Despite conceding the fewest expected goals in the league this season, LAFC are top five in goals conceded from dead balls per FBref. That should certainly be a focus for Verde in training this week.
The other successful strategy could be to give LAFC a taste of their own medicine in transition by conceding possession. In addition to the added side effect that it may be more difficult for LAFC themselves to score against a mid-block rather than in transition, it will likely be easier for Austin to catch LAFC before they properly set their defensive structure in front of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. That means either counterattacking quickly back at LAFC after they’ve thrown numbers forward in transition (the more dangerous option since you don’t want to get into a track meet with Bouanga and Son) or playing direct when the ball is won in Austin’s defensive third.
In terms of personnel, the latter would also allow Austin to target LAFC’s three-back formation, particularly Eddie Segura, who is not hesitant to track a dropping striker into midfield. I know this is unfortunately not Mytro Uzuni’s strong suit, but false nine movement from any Verde forward could pull the Black & Gold back line out of position before they’re able to get set. Or, you know, just head home another corner.
Who is one X factor player on LAFC we should be paying attention to this series?
The biggest problem for LAFC this season is that there has not been one, at least in the attacking third. Before Son’s arrival, it was the Bouanga show, and after, the pair set an MLS record by scoring 18 consecutive goals for the Black & Gold, including three consecutive hat tricks.
In midfield, the X-factor would’ve been Igor Jesus, who flew under the radar with a sensational season in defensive midfield before tearing his ACL in August. Luckily, Canadian international Mathieu Choinière has filled the hole admirably, but I wouldn’t quite consider him an X-factor. As good as Ryan Porteous and Nkosi Tafari have been, the same applies to center backs, and everybody knows how important Mark Delgado is.
All that said, I’ll opt for two potential goal scorers from unexpected positions: fullback and off the bench. Ryan Hollingshead embodies the idiom “right place at the right time” and has as much experience as anybody in the MLS Cup Playoffs. He leads all active defenders in goals (31) and is tied for the second-most goals all-time by an MLS defender. No question, he could deliver a big moment in Round One.
Then, if the Black & Gold need a spark off the bench, they have a livewire to turn to. 19-year-old David Martínez is potentially the most talented footballer Venezuela has ever produced[[1]] and is pure entertainment every time he steps on the pitch. Pace, flair, skill, confidence; it’s all there for the teenager. He still has maturing to do behind the scenes as he grows into adulthood, but there’s a reason he was voted 5th on the MLS 22 Under 22 this season (alongside Nathan Ordaz, a bonus potential X-factor, in 8th). The kid has ability in bunches.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
[[1]] Certainly, Justin's not throwing shade toward Dani Pereira here, but is rather just excited about Martinez.
Austin FC has faced LAFC twice this season, but not the LAFC with Son Heung-min on it. Head coach Nico Estévez gave some indication as to how his team will try to contain him.
Verde finished the season with 37 goals and a -8 goal differential. But they got wins when they needed them — including a key win over San Jose preceding this rematch loss.
It'll be the last match of the best-of-three series openers, but it's getting closer. Wednesday night, Austin FC travels to BMO Stadium to face a familiar foe to open its 2025 playoff journey — which, according to the oddsmakers and a lot of national pundits, might be just two or three games long.
Verde has played LAFC twice in the regular season over the past five years, including the team's first-ever regular-season match in 2021. They've famously played in the Western Conference finals in 2022. They've even played in a Leagues Cup Round of 32 matchup. Lifetime, Austin's 4w 7L 2D against the Black & Gold, but two of those wins have come in 2025 regular-season contests.
But the team will look a little different than even the international break-altered version of LAFC that came to Q2 Stadium 15 days ago.
To help us sort out this new, Son Heung-minified LAFC, we reached out to our former Striker colleague and LAFC font of knowledge Justin Ruderman, who was kind enough to entertain three questions.
Before we get there, though, the excellent Ben Wright of SixOneFive Soccer has put together this league-wide MLS survey, and asked me to contribute the Austin FC section of the survey. So, when you click Austin FC under the "What team do you support?" question, you'll go to a short survey that I made. Please check it out; I think you'll enjoy it. I'll share results in a future Verde All Day article.
To the questions!
Why is the Son-Bouanga partnership working so well?
Quality, chemistry and tactics.
The first point is obvious. Denis Bouanga and Son Heung-min are arguably the two best pure wingers in MLS and they play on the same team. That quality is always going to give you goals. But what has the pair clicking so well is the instant personal chemistry.
Prior to Son’s arrival, the biggest criticism about Bouanga from within the fanbase (there aren’t many) was his selfishness in front of goal. If he had it in his mind to shoot, he would, even if a better option were available.
Not anymore. Instead of selfishly chasing a second Golden Boot on the breakaway in the closing minutes against Real Salt Lake, Bouanga laid off an assist for Son to complete his first Black & Gold hat trick. Even the South Korean was surprised, but showed his appreciation by imitating Bouanga’s iconic flip celebration with an adorable somersault, followed suit by Bouanga who added Son’s signature hand gesture to the picture-perfect moment.
It summed the duo up perfectly. They just feel like two kids on the playground who happen to be a bit better (and faster) than the rest of their classmates.
Steve Cherundolo also deserves some credit here. Unwaveringly pragmatic, Cherundolo has shifted away from LAFC’s typical 4-3-3 since Son’s arrival, initially opting for a 3-4-3 with Son at the No. 9 before landing on a 5-3-2 to give Bouanga and Son free rein in the final third with space to run into. Cherundolo lauds his team’s tactical adaptability, but I’d be surprised not to see a 5-3-2 in Round One. It has worked like a charm.
If you were an opposing coach coming up with a game plan to score against LAFC’s defense, are there particular players you’d focus on, or are there strategies that can work to break down the whole unit?
Far be it from me to advise Nico Estévez after doing the league double over LAFC with 1-0 wins home and away this season, but it’s no coincidence that both of those goals came from corner kicks. Despite conceding the fewest expected goals in the league this season, LAFC are top five in goals conceded from dead balls per FBref. That should certainly be a focus for Verde in training this week.
The other successful strategy could be to give LAFC a taste of their own medicine in transition by conceding possession. In addition to the added side effect that it may be more difficult for LAFC themselves to score against a mid-block rather than in transition, it will likely be easier for Austin to catch LAFC before they properly set their defensive structure in front of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. That means either counterattacking quickly back at LAFC after they’ve thrown numbers forward in transition (the more dangerous option since you don’t want to get into a track meet with Bouanga and Son) or playing direct when the ball is won in Austin’s defensive third.
In terms of personnel, the latter would also allow Austin to target LAFC’s three-back formation, particularly Eddie Segura, who is not hesitant to track a dropping striker into midfield. I know this is unfortunately not Mytro Uzuni’s strong suit, but false nine movement from any Verde forward could pull the Black & Gold back line out of position before they’re able to get set. Or, you know, just head home another corner.
Who is one X factor player on LAFC we should be paying attention to this series?
The biggest problem for LAFC this season is that there has not been one, at least in the attacking third. Before Son’s arrival, it was the Bouanga show, and after, the pair set an MLS record by scoring 18 consecutive goals for the Black & Gold, including three consecutive hat tricks.
In midfield, the X-factor would’ve been Igor Jesus, who flew under the radar with a sensational season in defensive midfield before tearing his ACL in August. Luckily, Canadian international Mathieu Choinière has filled the hole admirably, but I wouldn’t quite consider him an X-factor. As good as Ryan Porteous and Nkosi Tafari have been, the same applies to center backs, and everybody knows how important Mark Delgado is.
All that said, I’ll opt for two potential goal scorers from unexpected positions: fullback and off the bench. Ryan Hollingshead embodies the idiom “right place at the right time” and has as much experience as anybody in the MLS Cup Playoffs. He leads all active defenders in goals (31) and is tied for the second-most goals all-time by an MLS defender. No question, he could deliver a big moment in Round One.
Then, if the Black & Gold need a spark off the bench, they have a livewire to turn to. 19-year-old David Martínez is potentially the most talented footballer Venezuela has ever produced[[1]] and is pure entertainment every time he steps on the pitch. Pace, flair, skill, confidence; it’s all there for the teenager. He still has maturing to do behind the scenes as he grows into adulthood, but there’s a reason he was voted 5th on the MLS 22 Under 22 this season (alongside Nathan Ordaz, a bonus potential X-factor, in 8th). The kid has ability in bunches.
Verde All Day is a reader-supported online publication covering Austin FC. Additional support is provided by Austin Telco Federal Credit Union. For more coverage, check out Emergency Podcast! (an Austin FC Podcast) wherever you get your podcasts.
[[1]] Certainly, Justin's not throwing shade toward Dani Pereira here, but is rather just excited about Martinez.
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