Austin FC arrives at BMO Stadium as a sturdy challenge ahead of Game 1 of the best-of-three, first-round playoff series between the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds in the Western Conference. The team has gone scoreless against LAFC twice this year, with the only LAFC foe to accomplish that more than once being Austin FC. In mid-March, Austin left Exposition Park a 1-0 winner, and seven months later, the teams clashed in the Texas capitol, with LAFC dropping a crucial contest by the same score. Steve Cherundolo, the LAFC head coach, noted that it's very rare to lose two games like that in the same fashion, but the real reason is not those set pieces, it's us not creating enough chances. Austin FC's compact low block has clogged up the works, leading to low scores, with the team scoring once or not at all in 24 of 34 games. LAFC, on the other hand, has tallied a goal or less 11 times in league play, including both losses to Austin, en route to consecutive 60-point seasons. The team's high-powered and enthusiastic forwards have helped LAFC to 65 goals, the fourth most in MLS this season, for a plus-25 margin. Hugo Lloris, the team captain and goalkeeper, stated that they're used to creating a lot of chances and testing the keepers more often than they did against Austin FC the last two games. The upcoming game will be Austin FC's first look at Son Heung-min operating alongside Denis Bouanga, with Cherundolo expecting a very dangerous LAFC. The team has ideas to use Sonny and Denis in critical areas, and also has ideas for them to not be used and to use others, which Cherundolo believes is the key in having all of their players available. Except for midfielder Yaw Yeboah, Cherundolo has a full complement of players to select from. The game is set to take place on Wednesday night, with Austin FC looking to capitalize on their previous wins against the Black & Gold. The team's ability to create spaces and attack the box will be crucial in determining the outcome of the game. With the dynamic duo of Son and Bouanga back in the squad, LAFC is expected to be a formidable opponent. Austin FC's defense will need to be solid to withstand the attack, and the team's offense will need to be efficient in order to score against the Black & Gold. The game promises to be an exciting matchup between two strong teams, with the winner advancing to the next round of the playoffs.