Dynamo meet LAFC in Western Conference final: What to watch for

(image via Billy Mears)

The Houston Dynamo are one step away from MLS Cup with defending champion LAFC standing in their way in the Western Conference final. Houston is coming off a 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City in last weekend’s semifinal. LAFC beat the Sounders 1-0 in Seattle to book their place in this conference final. The Dynamo and LAFC met twice this season, over a four day stretch in June, with Houston winning both meetings.

When: Saturday, December 2 | 8:39 PM CT kickoff

Where: BMO Stadium; Los Angeles, California

TV/Stream: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV

Radio: ESPN 97.5 FM (English), SiriusXM (English), TUDN Deportes Houston 93.3 FM (Spanish)

Thrice as nice

The Dynamo will have to beat LAFC for a third time this season if they want to play in MLS Cup next week. Houston dominated LAFC in the previous two meetings, winning 4-0 at Shell Energy Stadium and 1-0 in LA four days later. That was June, however, and a lot has changed since then. “After watching those games back, they don't have a lot to do with this game because of who is on the field,” Ben Olsen said this week. “The personnel was different in both of those games. They were back-to-back. LAFC had a (Concacaf) Champions League matches to navigate. It was 100 degrees here in Houston. It was just a strange time, and we took advantage of it. LAFC in the playoffs is a different animal. How they go about this postseason run is definitely different from the regular season, and they really do turn it up. We have been more focused on their recent games because they've had some structural and personnel changes. The Seattle game for them was a good look at showing their good parts and some of the things that hopefully we can take advantage of.” If the Dynamo can beat LAFC for a third time, at full strength this go-around, they will have more than proved that they are the best in West.

Denis the menace

LAFC winger/forward Denis Bouanga won the MLS Golden Boot this season and has scored 37 goals in all competitions. He scored the goal in Seattle last week to send LAFC to this Western Conference final and scored in both games against Vancouver in the first round. To say he is a player in form is putting it very mildly. With Dynamo right back Griffin Dorsey known to push forward into the attack, the Dynamo will have to be keen in shifting and moving defenders to their right, where Bouanga plays. “Anybody versus Bouanga is going to be a really tough task,” Olsen said Friday. “It could be numerous guys helping out in transition or the run of play. It’s a collective effort not just back there on defense, but it's the front pressure and midfield as well. We've dealt with really high-level transition all year. Some teams are built this way, and we've been dealing with that throughout the season. So, we have some ways to go about it. We also have to be ourselves and be brave and still play to make sure that we have the ball as well in this match.”

Doing the double

After winning the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup this season, the Dynamo are one of two teams left in the MLS Cup Playoffs looking to do a double (Cincinnati won the Supporters’ Shield). Olsen has said many times this season that the Dynamo are ahead of schedule in this “rebuild” but now that they are in this position, they are not going to take it lightly. “Every time that we come in the building, we feel that energy renew a little bit,” midfielder Artur said earlier this week. “We know that we're fighting for another trophy and to have another big achievement. This season has been very long and tiring, but it feels good to be in this position right now knowing that almost every team is on vacation right now and we're still playing, fighting to be champions. Everybody is tired but with energy to keep pushing because it's very important for us." The Dynamo have played a lot of games this season and they may be running on fumes as we’re now into December, but it’s clear they are going to give everything they got with just two matches left until another trophy.

Houston Dynamo – Out: Ifunanyachi Achara (knee), Tate Schmitt (knee)

LAFC – none listed

Predicted Lineup