Dynamo go for the double against LAFC: What to watch for
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo are in California tonight for the second of back-to-back matches against reigning MLS Cup champion LAFC. Houston dominated the Black & Gold on Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium, winning 4-0.
When: Wednesday, June 14 | 9:39 PM CT kickoff
Where: BMO Stadium; Los Angeles, California
TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Same song, second verse
After beating LAFC 4-0, the Dynamo are ready to roll the ball back out and do the exact same thing again. It’s that easy, right? If only. If ever there was a time to get LAFC twice, this seems to be the time. They’re coming off their Champions League run and have some injuries combined with international absences. "I know we beat the champs, but they're coming off I think, a real emotional week, losing the (Concacaf) Champions League and then having a tough game two days after that,” Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen said Monday. “They've got some injuries. So, we'll take it with a grain of salt. We're proud of the effort and we're proud that we were able to score that many goals and keep a shutout. It's a great performance, I won't take anything away from the guys. There's a lot more to us. When you watch it back, you see some of the holes, some of the things that we need to continue to push on, because we're always searching for
that perfect game. A big three points before we go on the road to a very tough place to play." The face that Olsen thinks there is more to be had from his team, and getting LAFC in the form they are in, could the Dynamo really do a double over the defending league champion?
Closing the first half
Tonight’s match will be the 17th of the regular season for the Dynamo, exactly halfway through their league schedule. They currently sit in 7th, a playoff spot, and could jump to 6th with a win. In the first year of Olsen’s product, with nearly a completely new roster, you would have to say things are going well. The team is also in the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a chance to win a trophy. “We've got some new guys in the lineup, Olsen said about what the team needs to work on for the second half of the season. “They're starting to get comfortable. They're starting to build some offensive relationships, that always helps. Really fine tuning it and making sure we're in a good spot down the stretch in this league to make sure we get the right amount of points to get into the playoffs." The second half of the season, into the summer months, has been a struggle for Houston in recent seasons so we will have to see if this new regime can handle it any better and continue their growth in the next 17 games.
No Coco
Midfielder Coco Carrasquilla is in Las Vegas preparing for Panama’s Nations League semifinal tomorrow night against Canada and will not play in tonight’s match. Moving Carrasquilla to a more inverted winger position has been a boost for the offense. How he will be replaced will be an interesting decision for Olsen and the staff. Carrasquilla will also likely be with Panama for the Gold Cup, which starts next week, so the Dynamo may be without their midfielder for some time. Luckily for Houston, in this match, they aren’t the only team dealing with a big absence as MVP candidate Denis Bouanga and reportedly European-bound Jose Cifuentes will also reportedly not play in tonight’s match as they are also away on international duty.
Availability Report
Houston Dynamo - Out: Ifunanyachi Achara (knee), Teenage Hadebe (leg), Tate Schmitt (knee), Coco Carrasquilla (international duty), Xavier Valdez (international duty)
LAFC – Out: Maxime Crepeau (leg), Sergi Palencia (lower extremity), Aaron Long (head), Denís Bouanga (international duty), José Cifuentes (international duty)
Predicted Lineup
