August 31, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles FC ahead Olivier Giroud (9) runs for the ball in the course of the second half towards the Houston Dynamo at BMO Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Photographs LAFC will journey to the Houston Dynamo on Saturday night time as they attempt to avenge a uncommon dwelling loss final weekend regardless of lacking a number of of their common starters.
The sport, which was postponed in early July as Hurricane Beryl impacted the Texas Gulf Coast, was performed in the course of the September worldwide window and got here on the heels of Dynamo’s 2-0 upset final Saturday. Chilly beat LAFC.
Los Angeles FC (14 wins, 6 attracts, 5 losses, 47 factors) will bear the brunt of worldwide call-ups, together with the absence of MLS’s prime three scorers, who’ve a mixed 34 objectives: Denis Bouanga (16 factors), Mateusz Bocuse (13) and Christian Oliveira (5).
That might imply France’s all-time prime scorer Olivier Giroud will make his first MLS begin after making his league debut as an alternative final weekend.
“We’re lacking some gamers and we might have to make some modifications in some beginning positions, nevertheless it will not affect us an excessive amount of,” LAFC coach Steve Cerundolo stated. “We’re nonetheless going to area a workforce we be ok with to get some factors in Houston, which is a tricky take a look at.”
It was bittersweet for Houston to defeat the Black and Gold for the third consecutive time in the course of the common season. Summer time signing Laurence Ennery suffered a season-ending ACL tear after scoring his first MLS objective.
Ezequiel Ponce additionally scored his first objective within the new league for Dinamo (11 wins, 8 attracts, 7 losses, 40 factors), who’ve dominated the common season collection lately, However misplaced to Los Angeles FC within the 2023 Western Convention Finals.
In contrast to coach Ben Olson’s first season in Houston, 2024 will likely be a harder 12 months at dwelling, with the seventh-ranked Dynamo successful simply 4 occasions in entrance of followers to this point. With 5 of their last eight video games coming at dwelling, they have to change that to safe an MLS Cup playoff spot and doubtlessly transfer up the standings.
“They’re clearly behind just a little bit, which makes them just a little extra unpredictable within the recreation, so we’re anticipating that and attempting to determine the right way to make the very best out of it at dwelling,” Olson stated. “This is a vital recreation for us.”
–Scene-level media
