Dynamo pick up point in second straight shutout of LAFC
(image via Ricky Vega)
The Houston Dynamo and LAFC met for the second time in eight days as the two teams tussled Saturday night at Shell Energy Stadium. Houston won 2-0 in Los Angeles last weekend and returned home to take on a short-handed LA team in a game that was originally scheduled for July and postponed because of Hurricane Beryl.
Ben Olsen rolled out the same eleven starters from the win last weekend. LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo was forced to switch formations and a number of his players with six guys away on international duty.
Both teams battled for the first twenty minutes of the match to try and find a breakthrough. Houston’s first chance came on 21 minutes when a ball was whipped into the box. It eventually found the feet of Amine Bassi but the Moroccan couldn’t keep his volley down and skied it over the cross bar.
Just a minute later a long ball from Hector Herrera played Ezequiel Ponce in behind the defense. The DP striker lost his footing and fell to the ground on the edge of the box but was able to get back up. He tried curling a left-footed shot to the far post but Hugo Lloris leaped to claim the effort.
In the 32nd minute, more good work from Herrera freed Griffin Dorsey on the right flank. His cross was fired into the six-yard box but no Dynamo player was there and the LAFC defense defended it well.
On the stroke of halftime, Ryan Hollingshead thought he had opened the scoring for the away side as he tucked a well-placed shot into the bottom corner. The celebrations were short lived as the flag went up for offside. Olivier Giroud was off as he came back to get the ball and lay it off to Hollingshead. The halftime whistle blew moments later with the score still at 0-0.
The second half saw more of the same with the Dynamo holding possession but unable to find a good scoring chance. Lloris tipped an Aliyu Ibrahim shot over the bar in the 64th minute. Franco Escobar had a chance in the 77th after a cross from Dorsey through the box but Houston’s left back could not keep his shot down.
Unfortunately for the Dynamo and the fans at Shell Energy Stadium, Houston couldn’t muster up anything more outside of a Ponce header off target in the 88th minute to close out the match. The final whistle blew and it was a point apiece. Shutting out LAFC in two straight matches and taking four points from a possible six being a disappointment says a lot.
Houston will return to Shell Energy Stadium next Saturday for another matchup with familiar foe Real Salt Lake. It will be the 8th meeting between the two sides since last August.
