Our prediction for this MLS match:
Thursday’s football game at Q2 Stadium pits together Austin and Los Angeles FC, who meet for the third time in the Major League Soccer. Los Angeles emerged triumphant in each of the previous two encounters between the two sides, and the bookies see them as slim favourites to win the midweek clash as well. In Carlos Vela’s absence, a man to watch in the away team will be Cristian Arango, who scored a brace in the 3-2 win over Real Salt Lake. Sebastien Ibeagha is banned for the match, while all Tristan Blackmon, Kwadwo Opoku, and Eddie Segura are out of contention with injuries.
Austin, on the other hand, suffered yet another dip in form, with the team conceding ten goals in total in three consecutive defeats to Dallas (3-5), Vancouver (1-2), and Houston Dynamo (0-3). Since Los Angeles have been in a fine form of late, away win should definitely be considered. All Matt Besler, Ben Sweat, Aaron Schoenfeld, Danny Hoesen, and Ulises Segura remain in the recovery room.
Highlighted Player (Andy Najar):
Andy Najar is a Honduras footballer who plays for both Anderlecht and the Honduras national team. Najar is a product of D.C. United’s youth academy and it has to be noted that he was named in the USSF Development Academy starting XI in 2009. The Honduras player made his senior debut for D.C. United on March 27, 2010 in a game against Kansas City Wizards.
Andy Najar scored his first professional goal one month later in a match against Dallas. Najar impressed in the 2010 MLS season and, as a result, he received the Rookie of the Year award. Speaking of his international career, Andy Najar made his Honduras debut on September 3, 2011, coming as a substitute in a friendly game against Colombia.
The right-footed winger (full-back) represented Honduras at the 2012 Olympics and he scored his first goal for los Catrachos against Costa Rica in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup knockout stages. Andy Najar was born on March 16, 1993 in Choluteca.
Highlighted Team (Los Angeles FC):
Seeing that Los Angeles FC will be competing in Major League Soccer from the 2018 season, the club chiefs did well to reinforce the squad. Several high-profile players joined the club in the winter of 2018, with Mexican ace Carlos Vela being the biggest name to sign a deal with LAFC.
The new expansion team will host their rivals at Banc of California, the stadium which is planned to be opened on April 29, 2018. The venue should hold up to 22,000 spectators. Los Angeles FC will be coached by Bob Bradley in the 2018 MLS campaign and they will be wearing black and gold kits in the USA professional soccer league. Speaking of their bitterest rivals, there will be fireworks when Los Angeles FC face LA Galaxy in the Major League Soccer.
District 9 Ultras and Black Army 1850 are considered the club's biggest supporters groups and it has to be noted that they used to support Chivas USA. Los Angeles FC were founded on October 30, 2014.