Kai Kamara scores in 90th minute, helps LAFC tie Austin FC

Field Level Media|published: Wed 19th June, 23:12 2024

Jun 19, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Los Angeles FC midfielder Timothy Tillman (11) controls the ball in front of Austin FC midfielder Jhojan Valencia (5) in the first half at Q2 Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Kai Kamara scored the tying goal in the 90th minute to help visiting Los Angeles FC to a 1-1 draw with Austin FC on Wednesday in a Western Conference clash played in a downpour.

LAFC dominated the game's statistics, earning advantages in possession percentage (59.5 percent to 40.5 percent), shots (16-3), total passes (529-372), passing accuracy (85.8 percent to 78.8 percent), corners (8-1) and crosses (11-4). Still, the visitors were held scoreless until the waning minutes, when a breakdown in the Austin defense opened the door and Kamara made the most of his opportunity.

LAFC (10-4-4, 34 points) had an eight-game winning streak over all competitions snapped and saw its four-match win streak come to an end.

Austin (6-7-6, 24 points), playing its first home contest in three weeks, is winless in its past five games (0-3-2) and earned just its second point over that stretch. The Verde had just one shot on target for the second consecutive game.

Austin's Jader Obrian produced the game's first goal in the 19th minute, working a keen give-and-go with Sebastian Driussi before unleashing a right-footed shot between a pair of Los Angeles defenders from just outside the box. The shot caught LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris flat-footed and found the left side of the goal.

LAFC pressed for the equalizer as Mateusz Bogusz fired a shot in the 40th minute but missed the top right corner.

Los Angeles was on the offensive early in the second half when Denis Bouanga tested Austin keeper Brad Stuver from a sharp angle in the 47th minute but the Verde keeper swatted away the kick. Bouanga had another shot on goal in the 79th minute but it was again from an extreme angle and Stuver was up to the task.

That set the stage for Kamara and Bogusz. The latter threaded a pass from the short corner across the box to Kamala, who headed his shot into the opposite corner of the net to tie the game and allow the visitors to split the points as the rain intensified.

The teams played seven added minutes in a deluge and settled for the draw.

--Field Level Media

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