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Biro's early header lifts Austin to 1-0 win over powerhouse LAFC
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AUSTIN (KXAN) — Guilherme Biro gave Austin FC an early lead, and then Verde and Black hung on for a 1-0 win over LAFC on Saturday at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Biro scored in the 12th minute on a header from an Owen Wolff corner kick, and goalkeeper Brad Stuver kept LAFC off the board with three saves.
Wolff hit a right-footed, outswinging corner that Biro met just outside the 6-yard box centered on the goal. Biro directed the ball to the left side of the target, and LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Llores laid out for the save, but the ball slid underneath his hand into the back of the net.
Austin FC head coach Nico Estevez said the club is showing signs of a team on the right path to becoming a winner, much like their opponent.
"LAFC consistently wins, and whether we like it or not, we're not there yet. But we're building to that, and it takes time," Estevez said. "The courage, determination, connection and sacrifice the team showed is the mentality of a team that wants to win."
LAFC held 66% of the possession, but that didn't stop Austin from making the most of their time with the ball. Austin took 10 shots with three on target, matching LAFC's output as far as shots on target go. Myrto Uzuni had two scoring chances in the second half, one saved by Llores and the other flashed over the crossbar at point-blank range.
Stuver stuffed Denis Bouanga's short-range chance in the 61st minute to keep Austin's lead intact. Things got a little spicy in the 78th minute after LAFC's Timmy Tillman undercut Stuver as he leapt to collect the ball, earning Tillman his club's lone yellow card. Stuver wasn't pleased with Tillman and shoved him once from behind. Tillman turned around and flopped to the ground when he and Stuver met face-to-face.
The match marked the return of Austin midfielder Ilie Sanchez to Los Angeles. Sanchez played three seasons for LAFC from 2022-24 and was a captain with the club. Sanchez signed a free-agent contract with Austin before this season.
Austin (2-2-0) now has six points in the Western Conference and all four of their matches have ended with a 1-0 scoreline. They're back at Q2 Stadium at 3 p.m. March 23 against expansion side San Diego FC.