Teenager David Martínez scores early in the second half as LAFC rallies for a 1-1 draw on a night when the Western Conference-leading Galaxy loses at Portland.

Playing arguably some of its best soccer of the season for the first 60 minutes, Austin FC looked more like a team solidly in the postseason than one on the outside looking in.  Jáder Obrian’s goal in the final seconds of the first half gave the Verde & Black a brief lead until David Martínez’s equalizer in the 62nd minute.

Solid ATX defending held Olivier Giroud, Denis Bouanga, and the Black and Gold to just six shots on goal and 1.4 expected goals, while the Verde and Black capitalized on a chance late in the first half to take the lead in the match, only to see that lead erased after the hour mark.