Early gift not enough for Dynamo in loss to LA Galaxy
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
Goals have been hard to come by for the Houston Dynamo this season and an away trip to take on the LA Galaxy looked to be an uphill battle. LA gave Houston a gift early in the first half to help in the scroing but the home side fought back for a 2-1 victory.
Andrew Tarbell started in goal for the injured Steve Clark and he was called on early. Martin Caceres got forward on a corner and sent a header toward goal. Tarbell dove to his right to palm the shot away and keep the game scoreless in the opening six minutes.
The Dynamo would open the scoring in the 18th minute with a crucial error from Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy. The ball was played back to McCarthy and he tried to play out of the back. Instead, he passed the ball right to the pressing Latif Blessing who only had to slot the ball into the empty net. The goal gave the Dynamo a 1-0 lead and looked to settle them into the game.
Blessing nearly had his and the Dynamo’s second just two minutes later but for a big double save. McCarthy did well to save the initial shot from Houston and Blessing fired the rebound on goal, only for Miki Yamane to retreat back and clear the ball off the line.
Houston nearly got to the half with their lead but Galaxy DP Gabriel Pec had other ideas. Yamane surged forward on the right, this time playing attacker, and floated a cross into the box. Pec snapped his head to the ball and floated it in at the back post past a diving Tarbell to make the score 1-1 in the 44th minute.
Ben Olsen made a change to begin the second half, bringing Brad Smith in for the goalscorer Blessing. The Dynamo had a big chance to take the lead in the 50th minute, but Aliyu Ibrahim skied a shot from inside the six yard box.
LA would take the lead right near the hour mark through their other DP. The Galaxy countered in the 59th minute, driving toward the Dynamo box on the left. The ball was sent back across to the top of the box where Riqui Puig made his run. The Spaniard took a touch and then shot into the side netting to make the score 2-1 in favor of LA.
The Dynamo looked shell-shocked, once again seeing their dominance in possession undone on the scoreline. Jefferson Valverde came on for his MLS debut in the 78th minute as Olsen rolled the dice, with the few dice he had, to try and find an equalizer.
Gabe Segal also came on up top as the Dynamo pushed for an equalizer in the final ten minutes. The struggles in finding dangerous chances and getting into goal-scoring areas continued as Houston couldn’t get a second goal and the Galaxy came away 2-1 winners.
The Dynamo will return home for another midweek match as the fixtures continue to pile up. Houston will host the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night at Shell Energy Stadium. They will then return to the road on Saturday with a trip to the Pacific Northwest for a match against the Portland Timbers.
