Houston Dynamo FC defeated LAFC for the second consecutive time in the last four days following today’s 1-0 victory at BMO Stadium. This was the first road victory of the regular season for the Dynamo and the first triumph on the road against LAFC.
Defensively, this was the 10th clean sheet of the year for the Dynamo in all competitions. The team has conceded just one goal in their last three outings. Offensively, the Dynamo have now scored 17 goals in their last seven games across all competitions.
Houston took the lead in the 23rd minute following a free kick from captain Héctor Herrera that found defender Erik Sviatchenko inside the box. The defender got a touch on the ball to force a save, which ultimately fell to Micael for his first goal for the club. The 22-year-old joined the first team earlier this year after spending 2022 with Houston Dynamo 2 and leading the team to the MLS NEXT Pro playoffs.
Sviatchenko made a key block in the 11th minute to deny Stipe Biuk at the near post. The defender finished with seven clearances against LAFC this evening.
Houston’s first shot on goal came in the 20th minute off a cross from Herrerathat found Aliyu Ibrahim inside the box, but his effort was handled by the LAFC goalkeeper.
LAFC nearly took the lead moments later when Biuk got behind the backline to chip in a ball into the back of the net, but he was ultimately ruled offside.
Herrera was brought down outside the box in the 39th minute and he took the ensuing free kick, but his effort just missed the bottom corner of the left post. The Mexican international led the team with three chances created against LAFC tonight.
The Dynamo nearly doubled their lead in first half stoppage time, but forward Amine Bassiwas ruled offside before he played a ball to Ibrahim outside the box.
Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark was called into action in the final moments of the first half to deny Mateusz Bogusz. The second ball was cleared by Sviatchenko who was well positioned to get to the ball before Diego Palacios could recover. This was Clark’s seventh clean sheet of the season and first away from Shell Energy Stadium.
Dynamo forward Corey Baird found Herrera at the edge of the box in the 72nd minute, but his effort went over the crossbar. Herrera capitalized on a turnover outside the box minutes later and forced a save at the far post.
LAFC went down to 10 players in the 79th minute after Kwadwo Opoku recklessly challenged for a ball and tackled Artur just outside Houston’s 18-yard box.
The Dynamo return to league play on Wednesday, June 21 when they host the San Jose Earthquakes for 713 Night at Shell Energy Stadium. Tickets for the match start at $7 and fans can enjoy $3 beers and $1 hot dogs throughout the game.
