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LAFC 1, Houston Dynamo 4: Dynamo deliver dagger blow in disappointing week for Los Angeles

A rough week comes to a disastrous end as LAFC lose big at home
Trebor TracyBy 6 Mins Read
Soccer player in a black patterned kit sprinting on the field with a blurred stadium crowd behind him.
LAFC forward Nathan Ordaz scores in the loss at home against Houston Dynamo. Photo courtesy of Los Angeles FC

A sunny Mother’s Day Sunday turned into a picturesque evening for the kickoff of the Western Conference clash between LAFC and Houston Dynamo. Los Angeles come into tonight looking to shake off the big loss on the road to Toluca, that saw them eliminated from Concacaf Champions Cup competition. In MLS action, it’s been a mixed bag, leaning bad, run of form lately, but they look to turn that around tonight with a big win at home.

We talked about it in the preview, the first goal typically dictates who goes on to win this matchup between these two sides, making it all the more important to find the back of the net first. It was a milestone day for LAFC defender Eddie Segura who made his 153rd MLS appearance for the club, putting him one past Carlos Vela, making him the All-Time MLS Appearance record holder for the club.

LAFC came out like a team that knew they had something to prove. Wanting to shake off the recent loss early, they were immediately putting pressure on Houston. They earned a couple of corners and a couple of free kicks in very opportune areas of the pitch. The best chance early came from a Son free kick that saw the ball hit off a Dynamo defender, nearly finding goal, but instead hitting crossbar and going over for another corner as LAFC continued to push for the opening goal.

Through 15 minutes it was just about all LAFC. Compared to the Toluca loss we were seeing a lot more shots, but more importantly, a lot of quality looks on goal, as they continued to knock on the door of taking an early lead. Despite keeping most of the possession early, despite earning four corners, along with several free kicks in the first 20 minutes, it was the visitors who needed just one opportunity to take the lead. In the 25th minute, right after a mistake nearly cost them a goal, the Dynamo went on a good run that finished when midfielder Jack McGlynn got the ball outside of the box but with enough space to put his left foot to the test. He hit the ball pure from distance, sending it top corner, screaming past Hugo Lloris for the opening goal of the match, giving Houston the lead.

LAFC continued to push and ask questions, only now they needed answers quick as they hunted the equalizer and not the opener. Just nine minutes after scoring the opener, Dynamo got a free kick just outside the box, and showed what efficiency can do for a team. It was Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Augusto that stood over the attempt and went for goal. His attempt was sent towards goal and received a kind deflection on the way that helped it get past Lloris as Dynamo doubled their lead in the first half.

With just a few moments left until the halftime break, LAFC finally broke through and got the finishing product on an attack. A ball from Son sent Shaffelburg on the run where he crossed the ball into the box, going all the way until it found Nathan Ordaz. The striker had been quiet all half, but with a massive opportunity at his feet, he got just enough on the shot to see it get past the line, cutting the deficit in half and putting Los Angeles right back in it.

The team went into the halftime break down just a goal after pulling one back, knowing that they had the bulk of the opportunities, and just needed to be clinical to get the equalizer, and possibly, a late winner. The second half started out much like the first, with LAFC controlling most of the possession, but unable to find what they needed to score. And, much like in the first half, Houston showed they only needed one chance to create magic. In the 51st minute, Jack McGlynn found former LAFC midfielder Mateusz Bogusz, who put a shot towards goal. The initial attempt was blocked by Hugo Lloris, but bounced right back to the midfielder who sent a second shot that wasn’t challenged as he scored against his old club, opting not to celebrate, extending the lead for the Dynamo early in the second half.

Just minutes after scoring a third, Dynamo got a fourth on a ball that got behind the defense and set the visitors up in a good position. A few good passes around the inside of the box ended up right at the feet of Jack McGlynn who once again didn’t hesitate to put his shot forward, getting past Lloris and getting into the back of the net, extending the lead to three goals.

Thankfully, that fourth goal was all Houston would score in the match. Unfortunately, despite plenty more attempts and a few more set pieces, LAFC couldn’t find a second goal, let alone a third or fourth goal in the match. It’s another disappointing result in a week full of disappointing results. Not only is the attack continue to struggle to find its rhythm, but what once was a defense that had a stretch of not allowing goals, has suddenly become unable to stop much of anything at the back. The team have to shake this off fast because they will be right back at it at the midweek, when they travel to take on St. Louis City SC.

Thoughts on the loss at home? Drop a comment below!

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