> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://verdeallday.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # At the Whistle: LA Galaxy 4, Austin FC 1 - URL: https://verdeallday.com/match-recap-lavatx-103126/ - Published: 2026-10-31T23:08:35.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-31T23:08:35.000Z - Description: Austin FC came to Carson with only one designated player, who spent most of the match on the bench. The loss helps the Galaxy in its playoff quest while securing Verde's third sub-40 point season. - Author: Phil West - Tags: 2026 season, austin fc, match recap In a Halloween match with some tricks embedded in the Austin FC starting lineup, the LA Galaxy got treats in the form of first-half goals by Joao Klauss and Hirving "Chucky" Lozano, as well as second-half goals from Sergi Roberto and the recently-excised-from-Austin Robert Taylor. That added up to a 4-1 loss — making it 1W 5L 2D (or 0.63 PPG) in Verde's most recent eight matches. Austin FC started with Damian Las as starting goalkeeper for the third straight match, with Micah Burton joining Jorge Alastuey and Ervin Torres in a youthful starting lineup, with Przemysław Płacheta another surprise starter, and Facundo Torres on the bench (and entering in the 86th minute with the outcome already decided) as the only one of three designated players who made the trip to Carson. Christian Ramírez, who started the season with the Galaxy, led the line for Austin against his former team. The first ghoul ... er, goal came 10 minutes in, when Ilie gave up a cheap turnover, passing it to a waiting Sergi Roberto, who slipped the ball to Harbor Miller, finding an open Klauss to slot it past Las after an in-the-vague-area Mikkel Desler didn't put up much resistance. Verde nearly got an equalizer in the 19th minute from Burton, who got free in front of goal and hit his shot off the post. Klauss nearly got a second goal in the 24th, but Guilherme Biro just got in the way enough — without demonstrably fouling him — to interfere with the attempt and ward off the danger. Las came through with a double save in the 35th, handling a Marco Reus attempt with a diving stop to the left, and then blocking Klauss' rebounded attempt. The Galaxy doubled their lead in the 38th minute, with Reus assisting Lozano after recycling an earlier effort. Again, Desler was the defender closest to the goalscorer, not putting up the needed resistance to repel the attempt. Toward the end of the half, Jon Gallagher worked his way into a high-xG area but shot wide. Three minutes after halftime, a Ghost of Verde Past haunted his former team with a goal, as Taylor got free in the box, getting a shot around a cluster of four former teammates for the third goal. Verde got a bright spot in the 54th, as Burton tapped a pass back to E. Torres, who curled a beauty from beyond the 18 to spoil JT Marcinkowski's clean sheet bid and add to his 22 Under 22 lore. Las then had another solid save, keeping Joseph Paintsil from scoring in the 56th, and stopped a Reus shot in the 61st to keep things from getting more dire. But in the 66th, with some passing that revealed the relative softness of the Verde defense on the day, Sergi Roberto got on the scoresheet with dots connected from just two players to get the ball from the sideline near midfield to a premium spot in front of goal. Adding injury to insult, Joseph Rosales went down in a collision with Joseph Paintsil, who comforted the seriously-in-pain Rosales as he remained on the turf. Rosales was able to get back onto the field under his own power, though, and even made it back into the game. In the 89th, Ramírez had his best chance of the match to score, getting isolated with Marcinkowski on a break, but put his shot excitedly well over the crossbar. To cap things off, sub Žan Kolmanič got a mysterious red card in the dying seconds of the match after making contact that didn't seem all that onerous. ## Best Verde moment (that wasn’t a goal) Not a lot to choose from, but there were some good Las saves, and Burton hitting the post was encouraging. ## Worst Verde moment (that wasn't a goal allowed) While the worst moments absolutely led to goals, let's assign this to Arnaud staying with the Ilie at center back and Las at goalie formula for the third match in a row. I love Ilie, and I'm invested in Las' development. But there are better actual center backs on this roster who aren't being utilized — Desler in particular wasn't stellar on Saturday — and Stuver is a better all-around goalkeeper than Las. This rivalry — Mark Delgado crimes! Biro crimes! — deserves more than rolling out a less-than-first-choice lineup to parade escort the Galaxy into the playoffs. ## One thing you might have missed This Austin FC fan, who made the trip to Carson to represent in this way. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1e/d1/1ed16f3e-4f96-4b65-9a04-4b0634738b99/content/images/2026/10/IMG_1089.jpg) (He shows up in the Apple TV broadcast at 53:48, if you're doing a rewatch.) ## One nerdy tidbit Here's some Futi data from halftime. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1e/d1/1ed16f3e-4f96-4b65-9a04-4b0634738b99/content/images/2026/10/IMG_4507.jpg) ## Where this fits into the season's narrative So much for being a spoiler. Save for the away match at Seattle in which Las got his first start — and an on-the-way-out CJ Fodrey and Jayden Nelson played wingback and attacking midfield — this was the most haphazard-on-paper lineup Arnaud has run out this season. And it guaranteed Verde's third sub-40 point season in its six-year history. ## A question we have heading into the press conference Given what I'm wearing this holiday and how I'm going into the press conference, I can only tell you that it's going to be Halloween themed. *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!](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emergency-podcast-an-austin-fc-podcast/id1742052077?ref=verdeallday.com) (an Austin FC Podcast) *wherever you get your podcasts, and join us on* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/verdealldayhq/?ref=verdeallday.com) *to get updates on all our stories and podcast releases.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1e/d1/1ed16f3e-4f96-4b65-9a04-4b0634738b99/content/images/2026/07/Verde-All-Day-Newsletter-Banner-Ad-2.png)