After two feel-good draws against two of the best teams in the league, Austin FC dropped a home match to a Galaxy team that hasn't won on the road in nearly 18 months. The loss leaves Verde winless in their last five.
An MLS All-Star scored the first goal in Nu Stadium, but it wasn't Lionel Messi. That set the tone for a quite surprising and entertaining match.
As 0-0 matches go, this one was full of action — including a Myrto Uzuni goal taken away by VAR. Yet, in the end, Verde wasn't able to stop LAFC's ongoing string of clean sheets.
Verde went to a stadium on Saturday night that hasn't been so friendly to them in recent years. That trend continued, though not be the lopsided margin of years past.
This match had nearly everything ... except for an Austin FC player scoring a goal, or Austin FC getting a result. The team's first road match of 2026 was, in a word, nightmarish.
It took less than 15 minutes on the field for Christian Ramírez to score his first goal in Verde. That goal proved the difference in a match in which the hosts dominated but struggled to break through.
An opening goal from Brendan Hines-Ike and a surprising (in how it ensued) goal from Myrto Uzuni was almost enough to seal a second straight opening day win. But then came the 90th minute.
Since it's Valentine's Day: Roses are red/some cards are too/Verde lost two players/and then lost 0 to 2.
The good news is Austin FC scored two goals in a match. The bad news is the two goals scored against them came off corner kicks.
Simon Becher scored a 16th-minute goal to provide the difference between the two teams. Offense, in the absence of key attackers, continues to be a concern.
If you like watching Austin FC take shots and score goals, this was not the game for you. But it's still preseason, and key offensive players are still missing.
Austin FC started the 2026 preseason with a scoreless draw against San Antonio. But then it announced one of its most consequential player signings ever.
