Austin FC v Los Angeles FC: Estevez urges patience in possession amid creation strugglesShareAustin FC have won just once in MLS this season, and they have a difficult task up next against Los Angeles FC, who are yet to drop points.Austin FC head coach Nico Estevez has urged his team to be more patient in possession as they take on Los Angeles FC in their next MLS game.Austin have won just one of their four league games this season (D1 L2) following their defeat to Real Salt Lake last time out.Despite taking the lead through Jon Bell, an own goal from Oleksandr Svatok was followed by an 88th-minute winner from Stijn Spierings for RSL.Bell's opener came from a set-piece, with Austin struggling to create from open play against Salt Lake, particularly in the second half.Although Estevez played down overall concerns about their chance creation from open play, he admitted Austin could improve in that part of their game.When asked about their open play chances against RSL, Estevez said: "For me, we created enough chances in the first half. But in the second half, we didn't do a good job with the ball."We have to be brave and have the ball more and then stick to the game plan."You could see in the first half we had those long possessions, and we moved them side to side. We did not have that patience and that thought in the second half."But it's true that we need to provide more [from open play]. Playing away is always going to be more difficult than playing at home when it comes to creating chances."LAFC will provide a stern test for Austin, with Marc Dos Santos' side boasting a 100% record in MLS this term.Only LAFC and the Vancouver Whitecaps have won all four of their MLS games in 2026, while the former also booked their spot in the Champions Cup quarter-final on Wednesday with victory over Alajuelense.PLAYERS TO WATCHAustin FC – Jon BellThree of Austin FC's five goals this season have been scored from set pieces, including Bell's strike against Real Salt Lake.Only three teams (Vancouver, New York City FC, San Diego FC) have scored more set-piece goals than Austin this season.Los Angeles FC – Mathieu ChoineereLos Angeles FC's last five MLS goals have all been scored from outside the penalty area, including both of Mathieu Choineere's strikes against St Louis City last weekend.LAFC are the first team since at least 2010 to score five consecutive goals from outside the box in MLS play (including playoffs).MATCH PREDICTION – LOS ANGELES FC WINLos Angeles FC are the first team in MLS history to open a regular season with four straight shutout wins.Only two teams in MLS history have recorded five straight shutout wins at any point in a season: LAFC themselves in 2024 and Atlanta United in 2019.Austin's 2-1 defeat to RSL was their eighth loss in their last 11 games in all competitions dating back to the end of last season (W2 D1).All three matches in which Austin avoided defeat in that time came at home as the Verde have lost just three of their last 17 at Q2 Stadium in all competitions (W7 D7).Austin won both regular-season meetings with LAFC in 2025, recording 1-0 wins home and away. However, LAFC got revenge in the playoffs, sweeping the Verde with a 2-1 home win and a 4-1 road win in the first round.OPTA WIN PROBABILITYAustin FC – 21.9%Draw – 21.9%Los Angeles FC – 56.1%Austin FC v Los Angeles FC: Estevez urges patience in possession amid creation strugglesAustin FC have won just once in MLS this season, and they have a difficult task up next against Los Angeles FC, who are yet to drop points.Austin FC head coach Nico Estevez has urged his team to be more patient in possession as they take on Los Angeles FC in their next MLS game.Austin have won just one of their four league games this season (D1 L2) following their defeat to Real Salt Lake last time out.Despite taking the lead through Jon Bell, an own goal from Oleksandr Svatok was followed by an 88th-minute winner from Stijn Spierings for RSL.Bell's opener came from a set-piece, with Austin struggling to create from open play against Salt Lake, particularly in the second half.Although Estevez played down overall concerns about their chance creation from open play, he admitted Austin could improve in that part of their game.When asked about their open play chances against RSL, Estevez said: "For me, we created enough chances in the first half. But in the second half, we didn't do a good job with the ball."We have to be brave and have the ball more and then stick to the game plan."You could see in the first half we had those long possessions, and we moved them side to side. We did not have that patience and that thought in the second half."But it's true that we need to provide more [from open play]. Playing away is always going to be more difficult than playing at home when it comes to creating chances."LAFC will provide a stern test for Austin, with Marc Dos Santos' side boasting a 100% record in MLS this term.Only LAFC and the Vancouver Whitecaps have won all four of their MLS games in 2026, while the former also booked their spot in the Champions Cup quarter-final on Wednesday with victory over Alajuelense.PLAYERS TO WATCHAustin FC – Jon BellThree of Austin FC's five goals this season have been scored from set pieces, including Bell's strike against Real Salt Lake.Only three teams (Vancouver, New York City FC, San Diego FC) have scored more set-piece goals than Austin this season.Los Angeles FC – Mathieu ChoineereLos Angeles FC's last five MLS goals have all been scored from outside the penalty area, including both of Mathieu Choineere's strikes against St Louis City last weekend.LAFC are the first team since at least 2010 to score five consecutive goals from outside the box in MLS play (including playoffs).MATCH PREDICTION – LOS ANGELES FC WINLos Angeles FC are the first team in MLS history to open a regular season with four straight shutout wins.Only two teams in MLS history have recorded five straight shutout wins at any point in a season: LAFC themselves in 2024 and Atlanta United in 2019.Austin's 2-1 defeat to RSL was their eighth loss in their last 11 games in all competitions dating back to the end of last season (W2 D1).All three matches in which Austin avoided defeat in that time came at home as the Verde have lost just three of their last 17 at Q2 Stadium in all competitions (W7 D7).Austin won both regular-season meetings with LAFC in 2025, recording 1-0 wins home and away. However, LAFC got revenge in the playoffs, sweeping the Verde with a 2-1 home win and a 4-1 road win in the first round.OPTA WIN PROBABILITYAustin FC – 21.9%Draw – 21.9%Los Angeles FC – 56.1%