Aug 24, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Dynamo FC ahead Lawrence Ennali (37) makes an attempt to regulate the ball as Toronto FC defender Kobe Franklin (19) defends in the course of the second half at Shell Vitality Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports activities The Houston Dynamo start a stretch pivotal to their playoff hopes once they go to Southern California to play the primary of back-to-back video games in opposition to road-weary Los Angeles FC.
The Dynamo (10-8-7, 37 factors) are coming off a 1-0 residence defeat in opposition to Toronto FC, a end result that dropped supervisor Ben Olsen’s group to eighth within the Western Convention standings.
And though the Dynamo have one match in hand in opposition to 5 of the seven groups above them, they might want factors from this home-and-home in opposition to the defending West champions if they’re going to attain a second consecutive postseason.
“We perceive that they are an excellent group. They proceed to place themselves in finals yr after yr as a result of they’ve confirmed that they are the most effective groups on this league,” Olsen mentioned. “However we’re wholesome, and I feel we now have so much to show proper now. We perceive that factors are helpful. Each level counts proper now to attempt to put ourselves within the postseason.”
The Dynamo may even be trying to avenge a 2-0 loss to LAFC in final yr’s Western Convention closing, after beating the Black-and-Gold twice within the 2023 common season. And so they’ll be hoping for a primary MLS aim from summer time striker signing Ezequiel Ponce, who scored as soon as in Leagues Cup play.
In the meantime, LAFC (14-5-5, 47 factors) could also be battling some fatigue after a busy week.
On Wednesday evening, supervisor Steve Cherundolo’s group gutted out a 1-0 U.S. Open Cup semifinal victory on the Seattle Sounders through Denis Bouanga’s late penalty kick.
That got here three days after a 3-1 defeat at Columbus in Sunday evening’s Leagues Cup closing, wherein the Black and Gold conceded twice in second-half stoppage time.
“I feel our LAFC gamers are monsters, and so they confirmed nice coronary heart tonight,” Cherundolo mentioned after Wednesday’s win. “Talent, management, management of their feelings, and the bodily aspect of the sport as properly to beat an excellent Sounders group on a really tough floor.”
Bouanga went 90 minutes in each video games, however Cherundolo should weigh the advantage of rotating his star participant in opposition to his team-leading 16 objectives.
Olivier Giroud, France’s all-time main scorer, may additionally make his MLS debut after he first took the sector for his aspect in 4 matches on the Leagues Cup.
–Subject Degree Media