After a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Galaxy at the Rose Bowl on Thursday night, LAFC faces a quick turnaround as it heads to Shell Energy Stadium on Sunday, July 7, to take on Western Conference rival Houston Dynamo FC.
Goals from Kei Kamara and Denis Bouanga, and another stout defensive performance, kept the Black & Gold (13W-4L-4D) atop the Western Conference with 43 points from 21 matches played.
LAFC is unbeaten in its last 12 matches across all competitions, including 10 consecutive matches in league play, both club records.
Sunday’s match is a rematch of the 2023 MLS Western Conference Final that saw LAFC defeat the Dynamo 2-0 on the way to the Black & Gold’s second consecutive MLS Cup Final. Historically, LAFC owns a 6W-3L-5D record against the Dynamo across all competitions.
The Dynamo (8W-7L-6D) currently sit seventh in the Western Conference with 30 points from 21 matches played.
At home in MLS league play, Houston holds a record of 4W-2L-4D. Its last home defeat was a 1-0 loss to Austin FC on April 20.
In its last seven matches, Houston has suffered only one defeat (3W-1L-3D). That loss came Wednesday night against Real Salt Lake in a thrilling 3-2 contest at America First Field in Utah.
Coached by Ben Olsen, the Dynamo are seeking revenge after LAFC eliminated them from the 2023 playoffs, Houston’s first postseason appearance in over five years.
Twenty-two-year-old forward Aliyu Ibrahim leads Houston with six goals scored. Amine Bassi’s six assists lead the club. The Dynamo will be missing influential midfielder Adalberto “Coco” Carrasquilla on Sunday due to his international service with Panama.
The Black & Gold Can Win If:
It can manage a congested week. The road match in Houston will be LAFC’s third match in eight days, and it will be played in the heat and humidity of south Texas, where LAFC has not won since 2019. With just two days’ rest following its emotional win over the Galaxy, the Black & Gold will likely rotate its lineup, which will not include talented winger Cristian Olivera, who remains with Uruguay at 2024 Copa América.
The Dynamo Can Win If:
They apply stress to an LAFC team that’s embarking on a grueling eight-game schedule in July. Playing at home, where they haven’t lost in more than two months, gives the Dynamo an advantage, due in no small part to the muggy weather conditions.
