Match Preview: Austin FC versus LA Galaxy, featuring Phil West

A crucial western conference showdown between the Galaxy and Austin FC goes down on Sunday night

If there is one thing to know about the LA Galaxy this weekend, it’s that they can FINALLY get out of 13th place in the Western Confrence.

LA will clash with Austin for the sixth time since 2021. The Galaxy have won four of the five matchups - outscoring Austin 9-3 in the all-time series. The reverse fixture in April saw the Galaxy get a 2-1 win at home. In their last visit to Q2 Stadium, the Galaxy pulled away with a 1-0 win. Mark Delgado recorded the game-winning goal that night.

As Sunday’s match between Austin FC and LA Galaxy looms closer, my former Striker colleague Phil West and I broke down the biggest narratives for the teams we cover.

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This preview was done with the help of my former Striker colleague, Phil West. Be sure to subscribe to his Substack, Verde All Day, to support local soccer journalism. Phil is the top Austin FC beat writer and provides great analysis, storytelling, and perspective about the beautiful game. If you can’t subscribe, at least follow him on X (@PhilWest) to stay in the loop of his coverage.

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Phil’s three questions for Alex: 

So, Chicharito’s out for the season with injury after getting just one goal this season (that was against Austin) … where do the goals come from? It hasn’t really been from Dejan Joveljic, which might surprise folks who don’t follow the Galaxy much. 

Unless you follow the English Championship or you’re a Sheffield United supporter, Billy Sharp’s name might not have ring a bell when he signed in mid-August. The 37-year-old striker is the all-time leading scorer in the Championship and has the most goals among LA Galaxy strikers in 2023 with six. He’s coming off scoring a hat trick in LA’s thrilling 4-3 win on Wednesday night. 

To sum up Sharp’s playstyle, he’s just the English Chicharito. He’s a fox-in-the-box and always finds himself in the right positions to hit the ball first-time. He’s a bruising striker who isn’t afraid to get physical and throw his body around to get a touch on the ball. He’s the last guy you want your center backs to lose track of.

Tyler Boyd’s shown he is capable of some sensational strikes, especially in big games. He loves to be direct and take on defenders when he’s given space on the ball. He’s a guy that can create a moment out of nowhere. Riqui Puig isn’t afraid to get a shot on goal if you give him space.