Austin FC homegrown midfielder Owen Wolff emerged as the hero in Sunday Night Soccer, scoring a dramatic 83rd-minute header to secure a vital 1-0 victory over LAFC at Q2 Stadium, snapping the visitors’ impressive six-game winning streak. The victory guaranteed Austin FC sixth place in the Western Conference and a direct berth into the Round One Best-of-3 series, avoiding the Wild Card round entirely.
After placing fourth on the annual MLS 22 Under 22 list earlier in the week, the 20-year-old Wolff proved why he is so highly regarded by delivering when his team needed him most. The game-winning goal came from a corner kick situation, with Žan Kolmanič delivering a perfect ball that LAFC’s defense failed to clear properly, allowing Wolff to react quickest and head home from close range.
The goal was particularly significant for Wolff personally, representing his 17th goal contribution of the season across all competitions and highlighting his emergence as one of MLS’s most promising young talents. The victory also snapped LAFC’s shutout streak at 429 minutes, dating back to September 21 against Real Salt Lake.
For Austin FC, this result provided a crucial bounce-back after suffering heartbreak in the US Open Cup Final against Nashville SC and enduring back-to-back league defeats. The win secured their position in the playoffs for the first time since 2022 and ensured they would have home-field advantage in at least one playoff match. With just Saturday’s Decision Day visit to San Jose Earthquakes remaining, Austin FC can now focus on preparing for their playoff campaign with momentum firmly on their side.
