Takeaways From LA Galaxy’s 1-1 Draw Against The Houston Dynamo
Lucas Sanabria levels it at the death as LA leaves Space City with a point
As the focus turned back to a fruitless MLS campaign and a laundry list of an injury report, Greg Vanney’s side resembled one that gave LA three points at home against Colorado. On the road at Shell Energy Stadium, however, they wouldn’t be as successful.
The Dynamo would jump out to a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute. Ondrej Lingr chipped a perfect cross over Maya Yoshida, as Ezequiel Ponce was on the other end to muscle past LA’s captain and put the ball past JT Marcinkowski.
The Galaxy looked to have evened the match in the 82nd minute with a goal from Gabriel Pec, but it was waved off for offside as a fallen and out-of-position Christian Ramirez’s foot clipped the ball on its way in.
But in the dying moments, LA would come back from the dead again. John Nelson whipped in a cross that Lucas Sanabria would bang in with a header for the equalizer in the ninth minute of added time.
In a match where the Galaxy looked outmatched and checked out, they still came away from Houston with a point – and it really could’ve been three.
Sanabria Saves the Night
For all the Galaxy’s struggles on the night, Lucas Sanabria was the one to deliver when it mattered most. Deep into stoppage time, with Houston seconds away from three points, Sanabria rose above the Dynamo backline to head John Nelson’s cross into the bottom corner. It was his second goal on the year, and it turned what looked like another road defeat into a hard-earned draw.
The goal capped off a spirited final 15 minutes from Sanabria. Subbed on in the 61st minute, he immediately looked more assertive than in some of his earlier appearances this season. He put himself in advanced positions, tested Houston’s defense with a header in the 84th minute, and wasn’t shy about demanding the ball in key areas.
For a player whose season has been marked by inconsistency — from a collarbone injury to stretches of ineffective play — this moment mattered. Greg Vanney has spoken about “investment time” for young players, giving them chances to prove they belong in the first team. Sanabria’s goal was exactly the type of breakthrough the staff has been waiting for: a decisive contribution under pressure, the kind of moment that can shift a player’s confidence and trajectory.
“It's huge for these guys, huge for me, huge for Lucas, his confidence. It's crazy what confidence can do for a player, and hopefully you'll have to see that more,” said Nelson to reporters postgame.
This was also great for Vanney to see where Sanabria can impact the game. Is he better in a deeper position, or will Vanney keep playing him higher up the pitch?
“He's a guy that he's felt it. He's felt the pressure of not totally settling in the way he wanted to but he's always stuck with it. He's a great kid and an eager learner and he's a warrior and tonight he battled to the end and he got to some great spots. I like it because it also gives me, again, more information on him that he does get himself into good finishing positions and he can vary things, and it's good information and I'm sure it's great for him mentally,” said Vanney.
“He had the biggest smile I've seen on his face when he came into the locker room and everyone cheered for him, and I think that's wonderful,” he added.
The Galaxy haven’t had enough players stepping up in clutch situations this year. Too often, the attacking burden has fallen squarely on Marco Reus and Gabriel Pec. Sanabria has shown he can be a difference-maker, even in a cameo role, providing a much-needed boost for a squad planning for 2026.
Rindov’s Presence in the Backline
While much of the focus has been on the Galaxy’s attacking struggles, Chris Rindov quietly turned in one of the most complete performances of the night. Making just his second MLS start, the center back led by example with a calm, assured display that gave LA a fighting chance to stay in the game.
The numbers back it up. Rindov completed 75 of his 80 passes (94%) and led all Galaxy players with 91 touches, showing confidence on the ball and composure in possession. Defensively, he was a wall: four tackles, four clearances, and four headed clearances without once being dribbled past. He also went a perfect five-for-five in ground duels, underlining his dominance when stepping into challenges. His ability to stay clean, committing zero fouls while winning the ball back four times, kept the backline steady during Houston’s stretches of pressure.
What stood out was not just the stat sheet, but the way he read the game. Whether it was stepping into midfield to intercept a pass or calmly recycling possession under Houston’s press, Rindov looked far more seasoned than a player still carving out his MLS minutes. He even chipped in offensively, creating one chance and pushing five passes into the final third, showing he could contribute to LA’s buildup when needed.
For a Galaxy side searching for reliability in defense, Rindov’s performance was a reminder of the depth emerging from within the squad. Vanney has spoken about the importance of young players proving they can handle the stage, and Rindov did exactly that. In a season where defensive lapses have defined too many matches, his error-free 90 minutes were a rare bright spot. If he continues at this level, he may well force himself into the conversation for regular minutes.
Yoshida Woes Continue
For Maya Yoshida, the difficult season shows no sign of turning around. The Galaxy captain endured another poor night in Houston, one that started with him losing a footrace to Ponce for the Dynamo’s opener in the 35th minute. It set the tone for an error-ridden display.
The 37-year-old was constantly caught flat-footed as Houston attackers ran off his shoulder. He picked up a yellow card in the 52nd minute after being beaten again, and nearly conceded a second later in the half when he misjudged a ball into the box. By the end, he had committed multiple fouls and was flagged offside on an attacking set piece, summing up a frustrating evening on both ends of the pitch.
While Yoshida still brings vocal leadership, it hasn’t translated into steadiness at the back. The Galaxy have now conceded 56 goals this season — just one behind Kansas City for worst in MLS, and too many have come from breakdowns directly involving their captain. His struggles are magnified next to younger defenders like Rindov, who showed composure in the same game.
The Galaxy now heads up to Lumen Field to take on the Seattle Sounders for the third time in four weeks, hoping for a better result after their first two meetings resulted in a combined 0-6 for LA.