HOUSTON (April 4, 2025) – Houston Dynamo FC return to Shell Energy Stadium from a two-match road stretch, hosting LAFC on Saturday, April 5, with kickoff time scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT. Fans can secure their tickets for all Dynamo home matches HERE.
The Dynamo will look to tie the all-time regular season series with LAFC at five wins apiece on Saturday. Houston is unbeaten in their last four regular season matches versus LAFC, outscoring their Western Conference rivals 7-0 over that stretch. The two sides played twice in a week last season, with the Dynamo earning a 2-0 road victory with goals from forwards Ezequiel Ponce and Lawarence Ennali, followed by a scoreless draw in Houston for their seventh clean sheet of the season. Notably, the victory marked the fifth time in Dynamo history that two players scored their first MLS goal in the same match.
LAFC’s roster features French World Cup winners in goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and forward Olivier Giroud, who will likely make their return to Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday.
Houston will look to bounce back from a 3-1 road loss to the Portland Timbers this past weekend. Defender Franco Escobar scored his first goal of the season in the 12th minute when a set piece delivery from midfielder Jack McGlynn found the Argentinian at the back post. Notably, goalkeeper Blake Gillingham made his first-career MLS start in goal with the Dynamo, making seven saves and becoming the second-youngest goalkeeper to start a game for Houston. Additionally, forward Andy Batioja, who was on loan from Dynamo 2 for the match, made his MLS debut with the Dynamo. The 19-year-old is a regular member of the U-20 Colombian National Team.
Notably, there are two upcoming career milestones for Dynamo figures. Midfielder Nico Lodeiro could potentially hit a milestone this weekend, as he nears his 200th MLS regular season start. Meanwhile, head coach Ben Olsen is approaching a milestone of 100 matches coached in all competitions with Houston, with Sunday’s match marking his 99th match in charge of the Dynamo.
Last week, the Dynamo announced the signing of attacking midfielder Ondřej Lingr and defender Pablo Ortiz. Lingr, a regular with the Czech Republic National Team, will occupy a Designated Player spot and brings vast European experience with SK Slavia Prague, MFK Karviná, Feyenoord and MFK Karviná across top competitions, including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League. Ortiz joins Houston on loan from FC DAC 1904 in Slovakia after the 24-year-old Colombian made 42 appearances across several top-level European clubs (FC Midtjylland, C.D. Mafra, FK Pardubice and FC DAC 1904) and began his career with one of South America’s biggest clubs, América de Cali. Both players will be available to play once they have received their International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 Visa.
LAFC are coming off a 1-0 home victory versus Inter Miami CF in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinals, after advancing over Columbus Crew SC in the Round of 16. Nathan Ordaz scored the game winning goal in the 57th minute with a strike to the bottom right corner. In regular season action, LAFC ended March with two wins and three losses, with their most recent result coming this past weekend, falling 3-2 on the road to San Diego FC. Artem Smolyakov and Cengiz Ünder were the two goal scorers for LAFC that night. The team currently sits eighth in the Western Conference with nine points through six matches.
As mentioned above, French World Cup winners Lloris and Giroud will likely make their returns to Shell Energy Stadium on Saturday. Both stars joined LAFC in 2024, with Lloris joining ahead of the 2024 MLS regular season and Giroud joining mid-season. Lloris finished his first season in MLS with 37 appearances and 13 cleans sheets in league play, while Giroud recorded 14 appearances and three assists.
Houston currently has a former LAFC player on their roster in Escobar, who was signed by the Dynamo ahead of the 2023 season. The Argentinian defender spent a season in Los Angeles, making 20 appearances in MLS play and recording one goal and assist, while helping LAFC win their first MLS Cup in 2022.
The Dynamo hit the road again next weekend, heading west to face the LA Galaxy on Saturday, April 12 at Dignity Health Sports Park, with kickoff scheduled for 9:30 p.m. CT. Dynamo fans can follow the action live via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
