AUSTIN FC VS SAN DIEGO PREVIEW & PREDICTION (March 24, 2025)

Austin FC Try to Give San Diego Its First Loss in MLS

Austin FC will seek to spoil San Diego's unbeaten run to start the club's first-ever Major League Soccer (MLS) season when the two teams do battle at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. The Verde and Black bounced back with a narrow 1-0 victory over Los Angeles FC last week, while San Diego came from behind for a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Columbus Crew.

Match Preview

All-Austin FC with Felipe Martins, John Gall, and Owen Otero.

Austin FC spend more time in their own half of the field and don’t get stretched in the same way as teams managed by former charge Josh Wolff under new head coach Nico Estevez. Although this has made them more solid at the rear, it has come at the cost of goals. Once this season, on two occasions, the club has enjoyed victory but each time by a scoreline of 1-0 and unfortunately, on two occasions, the record has exuded defeat with the same scoreline.

A victory on Sunday would give Austin back-to-back home wins in MLS play for the first time since May 2024. But they have had trouble hitting the back of the net, with only two goals in four league games—equal lowest in the Western Conference along with LA Galaxy.

Historically, Austin FC have fared well against opponents from California when playing at Q2 Stadium, with the Verde and Black currently enjoying a seven-match unbeaten streak in regular-season home matches against sides from the Golden State stretching back to a 1-0 defeat to the Galaxy in May 2022.

San Diego Keep Strong Start to MLS Expansion Season

In their first MLS campaign, San Diego has made an impressive first impression by going unbeaten in four matches. Most noteworthy is their capacity to fight back in games, earning four points from losing positions in their last two outings.

Mikey Varas’s side has a +4 expected goal differential — second in the league — and has given up only two goals in four games, which ties it for the best defensive record in MLS with Vancouver Whitecaps. They have yet to lose a game when scoring first, underlining their composure when in the lead.

Team News

Austin FC

Austin FC is missing Mikkel Desler and Julio Cascante, both out with hamstring injuries. And four players are on international duty: Leo Vaisanen (Finland), Myrto Uzuni (Albania), Oleksandr Svatok (Ukraine) and Jimmy Farkarlun (Liberia).

Guilherme Biro scored his first goal of the 2025 season last weekend in Austin’s 1-0 victory over LAFC. Goalkeeper Brad Stuver was also key in preserving the clean sheet, making three saves.

San Diego

San Diego will be without key attacker Hirving Lozano and defender Andres Reyes because of lower-body injuries. Also currently away on international duty are Paddy McNair (Northern Ireland) and Anibal Godoy (Panama).

In San Diego’s draw with Columbus Crew, meanwhile, Onni Valakari scored his first MLS goal, finding the net 21 minutes from the end to earn a point.

Projected Starting Lineups

Austin FC

Goalkeeper: Stuver

BACKS: Gallagher, Svatok, Hines-Ike, Biro

Midfielders: Wolff, Pereira, Sanchez, Bukari

Forwards: Obrian, Vazquez

San Diego

Goalkeeper: Dos Santos

Trainers: Kumado, McVey, Diop, Bombino

Midfielders: Valakari, Tverskov, De la Torre

Forwards: Dreyer, Ingvartsen, Ángel

Key Stats

Austin FC have not scored more than one goal in any of their four MLS games this season.

San Diego had the second-best expected goal differential (+4) among teams in the league.

Austin are unbeaten in their past seven home games against California-based MLS teams.

Don’t lose like we must not lose re: to goals: San Diego have never lost this season when scoring first

Prediction: Austin FC 0-1 San Diego

Indeed, San Diego have displayed incredible poise and defensive discipline in their fledgling campaign, turning them into a formidable opponent for any side. And even without Hirving Lozano they have shown amply capable of creating goals when required. On the other hand, Austin FC’s difficulties in the final third may come back to hurt it. We’re calling San Diego for a 1-0 victory in this one, keeping them unbeaten to start their MLS life.