Houston Dynamo FC opened up a three-game road trip with a 3-0 victory over the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday evening. This was Houston’s second victory away from home and their fourth clean sheet of the season.
Houston took the lead in the 11th minute after Corey Baird forced a save at the near post. The rebound fell to an oncoming Sebas Ferreira for his fifth goal of the season. The play began after defender Teenage Hadebe intercepted a ball near midfield and found Memo Rodriguez in space.
The Dynamo doubled their lead in the 58th minute after Ferreira found Tyler Pasher outside the box. The 28-year-old dribbled past two defenders toward the top of the circle and beat the Galaxy shot stopper at the far post.
Rookie forward Thor Úlfarsson scored his first goal in MLS in the 62nd minute after he dribbled into the box and past Derrick Williams to create space for a shot that beat the Galaxy goalkeeper at the near post.
Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark was called into action in the 20th minute after a series of clearances fell to Kelvin Leerdam near the penalty spot. Clark blocked the effort with his torso with the Dynamo backline clearing the ball moments later.
Clark tallied his second save of the game two minutes later when off a corner kick that fell to Samuel Grandsir. The forward’s curling effort was punched out of play and the Dynamo shot stopper finished with six saves against the Galaxy.
Houston’s final opportunity of the first half came off the right foot of Rodriguez who forced a save in the 44th minute. Midfielder Darwin Cerén forced the Galaxy to clear a ball from the box that fell to the Dynamo Academy alum, he created space for a shot, but his effort was handled by the Galaxy keeper.
Houston’s first opportunity of the second half came in the 54th minute when Baird played a through ball to Ferreira outside the box. The Paraguayan international found Úlfarsson at the opposite post, but his effort was off target.
Houston will travel to Kansas on Wednesday to face Sporting Kansas City in Round 16 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The Dynamo return to PNC Stadium on Saturday, June 11 to host LigaMX side Atletico San Luis in the Dynamo Charities Cup presented by PNC Bank.
