Xavi Tamarit Earns First Victory as LAFC Interim Head Coach
LOS ANGELES — LAFC interim head coach Xavi Tamarit reached an important milestone Wednesday night, earning his first victory in charge of the Black & Gold following a 3-1 win over Austin FC at BMO Stadium.
The result marked an encouraging step for Tamarit, who took over the club earlier this month during a difficult stretch of the MLS regular season. With LAFC fighting to secure a favorable playoff position, the Spanish coach has been tasked with restoring consistency and guiding the team through the final weeks of the campaign.
Tamarit was appointed interim head coach on October 1 following the departure of Marc Dos Santos. Previously a member of LAFC's coaching staff, Tamarit brought more than two decades of coaching experience to the position, including work in England, Spain and Argentina.
His first match in charge ended in a 1-1 draw against Western Conference leaders Vancouver Whitecaps on October 10. Although LAFC was unable to secure all three points, the performance offered an early indication of the tactical adjustments Tamarit was beginning to introduce.
Four days later, those changes produced his first victory.
Against Austin, LAFC demonstrated greater attacking urgency, generating 28 shots and placing 13 on target. After a scoreless opening half, Denis Bouanga scored twice and Son Heung-min added another goal to secure a 3-1 victory.
The result ended LAFC's four-match winless streak and improved Tamarit's record to one win and one draw through his first two matches as interim head coach.
Speaking to the media following the match, Tamarit appeared alongside Bouanga and Jacob Shaffelburg as attention turned toward the team's performance and the importance of building momentum.
One of the central challenges facing Tamarit has been introducing tactical changes without the benefit of a full preseason. Following the Vancouver match, he acknowledged that adapting to new ideas would require time, particularly as players worked to develop consistency within a different approach.
Wednesday's performance provided a promising response.
Tamarit made four changes to the starting lineup from the Vancouver match, bringing Aaron Long, Mark Delgado, Igor Jesus and Leo Walta into the starting eleven. Walta, making his first start for LAFC, contributed five shots, including three on target.
The adjustments reflected Tamarit's willingness to evaluate different combinations as he searches for the most effective lineup during the closing stages of the season.
Another encouraging development was the continued partnership between Bouanga and Son. The two forwards combined for all three LAFC goals, with Bouanga recording two goals and an assist while Son finished with a goal and two assists.
Their connection remains one of LAFC's greatest strengths, and maintaining that attacking production will be critical as Tamarit prepares the team for the postseason.
Beyond the individual performances, the victory carried significance for a club that had struggled to turn opportunities into results in recent weeks.
LAFC entered the match having won just two of its previous 13 games across all competitions before Tamarit's appointment. The change in leadership came at a crucial point in the season, with the club still competing for a top-four finish in the Western Conference.
Wednesday's victory moved LAFC to 45 points, just two behind fourth place. A top-four finish would provide home-field advantage in the opening round of the MLS Cup Playoffs, making every remaining match particularly important.
For Tamarit, the immediate challenge is maintaining the progress shown against Austin while continuing to develop his approach with limited preparation time.
His first victory does not resolve every question surrounding LAFC's season, but it provides an important foundation for the weeks ahead.
With the playoffs approaching, Tamarit now has an opportunity to demonstrate that the improvement against Austin can become something more consistent.
For LAFC, Wednesday night represented more than the end of a winless streak. It was the first victory of a new coaching chapter, and potentially an important turning point in the club's push toward the postseason.
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