Arnaud demands accountability after Austin’s 4-1 defeat to Nashville
Arnaud calls for a response after Austin’s heavy loss
Davy Arnaud has challenged Austin FC’s players to take responsibility after their eight-game MLS unbeaten streak ended with a 4-1 defeat to Nashville SC. Austin were outplayed by the Eastern Conference leaders, and Arnaud said his side looked disjointed.
“We have to understand that we need 11 guys on the same page and pulling in the same direction,” Arnaud said after the loss. “I don’t think we had that. They were better than us in every part of the game. They beat us in every part of the game.”
He added that the players needed to be self-starters and said Austin’s defensive work had not translated onto the pitch. The defeat leaves the club 13th in the Western Conference, five points behind ninth-place LA Galaxy with six games remaining. Brandon Vasquez scored Austin’s only goal against Nashville.
LAFC arrive amid a difficult run
Austin’s next opponents, Los Angeles FC, drew 1-1 with Vancouver Whitecaps in their first match under Xavi Tamarit. LAFC sit sixth in the West, having played a game more than the teams around them, and have gone four league matches without a win. They have taken just one victory from their last 11 MLS outings.
LAFC announced a new contract for defender Eddie Segura, extending his deal through the 2029-30 season with an option for an additional year. Club president of soccer operations John Thorrington praised Segura’s “consistency, professionalism, and leadership.”
Recent records point to a close test
Austin are unbeaten in their last five regular-season meetings with LAFC, with two wins and three draws, including a 0-0 result on March 21. LAFC, however, eliminated Austin in last season’s first-round playoffs, winning the two-game series 6-2 on aggregate.
Austin have also avoided defeat in four consecutive away league matches, while LAFC’s recent run has been marked by alternating draws and losses. The source report’s Opta win-probability estimate gave LAFC a 64.7% chance of victory, compared with 19.3% for a draw and 16% for an Austin win.