Throwback Thursday: Dynamo kickstart playoff run with big win over LAFC
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
The Houston Dynamo play host to LAFC this Saturday. It is Thursday, so that means it is time to throw it back to a previous matchup between the two sides. For this time, we will look at the 4-0 dominating win for Houston on June 10, 2023 that kickstarted the excellent form to push the club into the playoffs.
Background
This was the first year of Ben Olsen’s tenure as the Dynamo head coach. The team were in a weird spot where they started 2023 off looking poor despite picking up results on a regular basis. The poor play finally caught up to them with a 6-2 loss to Vancouver and a 3-0 loss to St Louis. Looking to right the ship, the Dynamo had two games in a row against LAFC, one home and one away.
LAFC were also having a mixed regular season at the time while competing in the Concacaf Champions Cup. They were just coming off the finals loss to Leon, putting them in a position to now focus 100% on MLS.
Lineups
First Half
To start the game, the Dynamo went with two surprise additions to the lineup with Chase Gasper, who was really struggling at the time, and Nelson Quiñones, who was really poor to begin 2023. He won a spot in the lineup following his goal in the Open Cup the previous week against Chicago. The Colombian repaid Ben Olsen’s faith, curling in a fantastic strike just ten minutes into the game. This was the start to a very impressive run of form for Nelson, who kept his place in the team the rest of the season. Ten minutes later, Steve Clark played hero with a fantastic save on LAFC’s young winger Stipe Buik.
Second Half
Houston started the second half on the front foot with Quiñones winning a penalty just minutes into the half. If you remember 2023, than you know exactly what happened next. Amine Bassi stepped up to the spot, placing it past the keeper to make it 2-0. Quiñones was then subbed out of the game for Corey Baird who was looking for revenge against his former club. He did just that after some great pressing from Ibrahim Aliyu to win the ball off Ryan Hollingshead. Baird took the ball and beat two defenders to slot it past the keeper with ease. The Dynamo were not done yet. In the 89th minute, Franco Escobar received a long ball and smacked it on the half volley to score the goal of the season for the Dynamo making it a 4-0 embarrassment. This was the ultimate low of the season for LAFC as they would then go on to lose 1-0 to the Dynamo again just four days later.
Unfortunately, we all know how this in-season rivalry went with LAFC beating the Dynamo when it mattered most in the Western Conference Final. LAFC then went on to win MLS Cup on penalties against the Philadelphia Union. Can the Dynamo repeat history with a massive win against LAFC when things start looking dire for Ben Olsen’s squad?
