Austin Vs LA Galaxy, MLS 2025 Highlights: Brandon Vazquez's Late Strike Earns Los Verdes 1-0 Win

Welcome to our live coverage of the Austin FC vs LA Galaxy, Matchday 9 of MLS 2025 Regular Season. Stay tuned for the detailed lineups as they are released.

Before the lineups are released for tonight's game, let's have a look at the injury list for both teams:

Austin FC: Mikkel Desler (hamstring)

LA Galaxy: Riqui Puig (ACL), Marco Reus (knee), Maya Yoshida (doubtful), Mathias Jorgensen (suspended)

A quick recap on where both these teams lie in the MLS 2025 standings before the match:

Austin FC are currrently sixth in the Western Conference with four wins and one draw in eight games, securing them 13 points. They are just one point behind third-placed San Diego FC, and a win can take them above second-placed Minnesota (15 points).

Meanwhile, LA Galaxy are in much worse shape, sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference standings with no wins in eight matches. They have secured three draws, giving them three points, but a win tonight can take them off the foot of the table to 13th place, overtaking Houston Dynamo (6 points).

Austin FC: Brad Stuver; Guilherme Biro, Oleksandr Svatok, Brendan Hines-Ike, Jon Gallagher; Owen Wolff, Besard Sabovic, Daniel Pereira; Myrto Uzuni, Brandon Vazquez, Jader Obrian

LA Galaxy: John McCarthy; John Nelson, Carlos Garces, Eriq Zavaleta, Miki Yamane; Edwin Cerrillo, Diego Fagundez, Isaiah Parente; Joseph Paintsil, Christian Ramirez, Gabriel Pec

Austin FC: Stefan Cleveland, Julio Cascante, Riley Thomas, Zan Kolmanic, Ilie Sanchez, Nicolas Dubersarsky, CJ Fodrey, Diego Rubio, Osman Bukari

LA Galaxy: Novak Micovic, Julian Aude, Mauricio Cuevas, Elijah Wynder, Lucas Sanabria, Marco Reus, Tucker Lepley, Matheus Nascimento, Miguel Berry

One big surprise from the lineups is the presence of Marco Reus on the LA Galaxy bench. The German veteran has not played since 9 March after suffering a knee problem, but he is apparently fit enough to be named as one of the substitutes for tonight's game. Whether Greg Vanney gives him any minutes remains to be seen though.

Let's have a look at the head-to-head records between the two teams ahead of the clash:

Austin FC and LA Galaxy have played eight MLS regular season matches between them, With LA winning five times and Austin FC winning just once. The Galaxy were unbeaten against Austin FC in MLS 2024 regular season -- earning one win and one draw.

Another interesting stat from Saturday's clash: This is the 400th games across all competitions for Greg Vanney as a member of the LA Galaxy team, either as a player or coach.

The former USMNT defender played 232 games for the Los Angelinos between 1996 and 2008, and then returned as Head Coach, managing 167 matches across five seasons.

A key player for Austin FC tonight will be USMNT striker Brandon Vazquez. The #9 has scored just one goal in eight games so far, but Los Verdes will need him to be at his best -- that saw him flourish in the Liga MX for Monterrey.

We have some celebrity presence at the Q2 stadium as Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey, a Texan native, is in the stands.

The referee blows his whistle, and we are underway at Texas! Stay tuned for live updates from the ATX vs LA match.

After some early attacking pressure from LA Galaxy, it's the home side with the first clear chance. Jader Obrian steals the ball at the penalty box's edge and crosses it towards Myrto Uzuni, and the Alabanian's bicycle kick is NOT far from the top bar. Good, athletic effort, and a warning sign for the Galaxy defence.

ATX 0-0 LA (7')

Guilherme Biro goes forward down the left side, and floats in a cross to the Galaxy box. John Nelson heads the ball behind with Daniel Pereira rushing in. Austin FC in the ascendancy at the moment.

ATX 0-0 LA (10')

That's a shot from some distancy by Daniel Pereira. The midfielder receives the ball from Vazquez and hits it hard and true towards the bottom corner, but McCarthy goes down and keeps it out.

After the goal he scored in MLS last match, why not?

What a counter-attacking move from Galaxy! After some sustained pressure from the home side, LA break forward with Joseph Paintsil and and Gabriel Pec combining. The Brazilian cuts in the from the right side and has a go, but it's at a good height for Brad Stuver to keep out.

ATX 0-0 LA (17')

The first 20 minutes has flown by really. End-to-end attacking stuff from both teams, with a number of chances for Gabriel Pec already, and the Brazilian has failed to seriously threaten Stuber till now. Uzuni had an acrobatic effort, and that's the closest Austin have come so far.

MLS has come a long way since it's inception, though, and no wonder it's enjoying increasing attendance every season. The Q2 Stadium isn't sold out for tonight's clash, but with Lionel Messi turning up for the next game againts Columbus, we might have a sold-out show in the next game.

Another chance for Myrto Uzuni, and it's more straightforward this time for the Albanian. He cut in from the left side and tried to curl one in inside the far post, but McCarthy gets down in time once again and keeps it out.

Austin FC stick to their guns and float in another ball to the box, but Vazquez fails to get his head to the ball. ATX look stronger at the moment.

ATX 0-0 LA (24')

Oh how close was he! Gabriel Pec gets a free run down the right side, and not one of the three Austin defenders step in. Gallagher seems to be ball watching, waiting for the Brazilian to cut in, which he never does. Pec stays on his right foot and lets go, hitting the right post. So unlucky!

ATX 0-0 LA (28')

Almost all of LA Galaxy's attacks are coming in from the right hand side through Gabriel Pec, and Austin FC are looking to isolate him on that side especially with the physical presence of Guilherme Biro. The Brazilian is brought down and stays on the ground of a few minutes, catching his breath.

ATX 0-0 LA (33')

A brain-freeze moment from McCarthy, as the goalkeeper crumbles under Galaxy's pressure and passes it to a forward. Myrto Uzuni tries to curl it into the goal, but it's headed by the Austin defence.

ATX 0-0 LA (36')

A half-chance for Austin, as Pereira floats in a cross and it finds Vazquez's head, but the striker's head goes above the bar. He does not exude confidence at the moment, and his goal drought is affecting him -- no way he misses the target from such close range otherwise.

ATX 0-0 LA (40')

Oh, that could have been a chance! Paintsil is played through with an inch-perfect ball, but the Ghanian tries to take it to his right side and his touch is heavy, which gives Gallagher a chance to get in front of him and put it behind for a corner.

ATX 0-0 LA (43')

Another chance from Austin FC down the left side, with Biro again finding Brandon Vazquez, but the striker failes to find the target with a left-footed shot.

ATX 0-0 LA (45')

Not much stoppages in the match, and only one minute of extra time added by the fourth official.

The referee blows his whistle, and it's half-time at the Q2 Stadium! Both teams head to the tunnel goalless, but Austin FC has had the better of the two chances, while Pec has had a couple of shots on target, but Stuver has largely been undisturbed by the away forwards.

ATX 0-0 LA (HT)

The second half is underway, with scores still level at 0-0. Who will get the first breakthrough tonight?

A relatively slower start to the second half, with no clear cut attacking opportunities from either side. Austin FC has attempted to shift their attacking moves to the right hand side, but LA Galaxy's offside line is inch-perfect.

McConaughey does not look impressed on the stands.

ATX 0-0 LA (52')

Galaxy enjoy a nice attacking spell, with Diego Fagundez moving to the left side and trying it play it in, but Austin parry the danger. The possession remains with the away side, who switch flanks and try to come through Pec, but the defence pushes it behind for a corner.

A late challenge by Isaiah Parente on Besard Sabovic earns him the first booking of the match.

Another chance goes begging for Austin. A fantastic cross from Pereira into the box is met by Brandon Vazquez. The striker has a free header, and he tries to attack the near post but the ball spins off the top of his head and goes wide. A terrible, terrible header -- Vazquez HAS to hit the target from that chance!

ATX 0-0 LA (55')

Change for Austin FC:

Osman Bukari IN

Jader Obrian OUT

Change for LA Galaxy:

Marco Reus IN

Christian Ramirez OUT

Oh my! Substitute Omar Bukari tries to dazzle his way inside the penalty box, and John Nelson's challenge is late. He catches Bukari on the shin, and the forward goes down. The referee has no doubt in his mind as he points to the spot. A lifeline for the home side.

Galaxy's head coach claims that his defender got a bit of the ball, but replays show that there was none.

Brandon Vazquez gets it all right -- staring down the keeper, stuttering his run up -- but his actual penalty kick is awful! He shoots it towards the left side, but the shot is too central and towards McCarthy's body, and the goalkeeper has little trouble keeping it out.

ATX 0-0 LA (68')

Marco Reus' introduction has given some life to the LA Galaxy attack, and the German has tried to combine with Diego Fagundez and Pec, but clear cut chances are still far and few for the visitors.

The momentum is with Galaxy though, and Austin are finding it tough at the moment to go up the halfway line.

ATX 0-0 LA (75')

Changes for LA Galaxy:

Julian Aude, Lucas Sanabria IN

Christian Ramirez, Isaiah Parente OUT

Change for Austin FC:

Zan Kolmanic IN

Guilherme Biro OUT

After missing a number of chances, Brandon Vazquez finally gets a goal to his name. Pereira gets a good run doown the left side, and a fantastic delivery from Uzuni finds Vazquez after a heavy deflection from the sliding Garces. The striker taps it in home from close range, and no chance for McCarthy to do anything. Austin FC lead at home.

ATX 1-0 LA (81')

A couple of chances for Gabriel Pec, who seems the most likely Galaxy player to find the back of the net. First, he accelerates down the right side and plays the ball across the face of the goal, but no one is there from his team to find it. In the ensuing corner, the ball again goes to his feet, and the Brazilian lets go, but can't find the net.

ATX 1-0 LA (87')

Ooooh! That was a chance and a half!Osman Bukari is sent through by Owen Wolff, and the Ghanian gets the better of his marker, but he shoots straight at the onrushing McCarthy. The goalkeeper must get some credit as he made himself as big as possible, but that was a good opportunity to bury the match.

ATX 1-0 LA (89')

Brendan Hines-Ike gets himself sent off in the stupidest way possible. The defender fowls Julian Aude which earns him a yellow, but then says something to the referee then earns him the second yellow. Austin down to 10 men.

ATX 1-0 LA (90+3')

After eight minutes of added time, the referee blows the whistle, and it's all over in Texas! Brandon Vazquez made up for his penalty miss, tapping in from close range to secure a 1-0 win for Austin FC against LA Galaxy.

ATX 1-0 LA (FT)

That's the end of our live coverage of the Austin FC vs LA Galaxy, MLS 2025 match. But you can continue with the Major League Soccer madness, as we are covering the Eastern Conference clash between Columbus Crew and Inter Miami right here.

Meanwhile, thank you for sticking with us for our live commentary, and goodnight.