Match Preview: LA Galaxy return home to face Houston Dynamo
The LA Galaxy looks to get back to winning as it set to host the Houston Dynamo to start a stretch of three games in a week. The Galaxy’s last victory came on April 21st. Since then the Galaxy recorded one loss and four consecutive draws.
Greg Vanney’s side is coming off a 0-0 draw in Charlotte last Saturday. The Galaxy couldn’t convert on their chances as they held control of the match. The Dynamo is coming off a 1-1 draw to rivals FC Dallas. Ben Olsen’s team sits 8th in the Western Confrence standings.
Injury Report
LA:
Joseph Paintsil - Hamstring (Out)
HOU:
Steve Clark – Face (Out)
Sebastian Ferreira – Lower Body (Out)
McKinze Gaines – Lower Body (Out)
Nelson Quinones – Knee (Out)
Franco Escobar – Lower Body (QUESTIONABLE)
The Storyline
The LA Galaxy’s four consecutive draws pressure the SoCal club to get a home win on Saturday night. The Galaxy’s home games have been narrow victories or dramatic ties in front of the home crowd in Carson. Getting a definitive home victory will go a long way to boost morale for the fan base and players.
The Galaxy's lack of a convincing home win has been the only blemish at home this season. The club is consistently picking up points at home and putting up valiant performances but that win by multiple goals has yet to come for LA.
With this home stretch coming up, it allows the Galaxy to get back to picking up points to keep up with the ever-evolving Western Conference.
Players To Watch
LA: Gabriel Pec, Winger
The Galaxy’s Young Designated Player loves performing in front of the home crowd. Pec has three goals and one assist in five games played at Dignity Health Sports Park this season.
Joseph Paintsil’s injury means Pec will have a lot of influence in the attack on the right wing - where the LA Galaxy tends to attack in every game. Vanney called out Pec in the last match against Charlotte because he “wasn’t able to make that final difference.”
The goal scoring load is going to be put on the young Brazilian and rightfully so. Pec has the opportunity to show how he can operate as the number one attacking option in Vanney’s system.
HOU: Amine Bassi, Winger
The Morrocan forward has been the most consistent player in the Dynamo attack. He currently has one goal, three assists and leads the team with 36 chances created.
He tends to play in the left half-space to create for the Dynamo and that gets the most from his creative abilities. He leads the team with 313 touches in the final third and passes into the penalty area with 30.
Midfielder Hector Herrera's return to the pitch in the last couple of games has changed a bit of the dynamic in the midfield but Bassi remains the biggest threat closest to goal. Expect him to be the orchestrator for Houston all night long.
The Winning Edge: Keeping Houston’s Attack Under Control
This is the matchup for the LA Galaxy backline to have a good night. The Dynamo has scored 12 goals this season, the lowest tally in all of MLS. LA will look to get back-to-back clean sheets for the first time this season.
The Dynamo’s leading goalscorer this season is Ibrahim Aliyu with four goals this campaign. Houston has seven players that have scored one goal this season. The club has yet to find the scoring form it produced last season en route to the Western Confrence finals.
LA has given up 21 goals through 14 games this season. That’s not a good ratio for a team that wants to be among the best in the West.