LAFC out smarts Houston in conference final
Los Angeles Football Club and Houston Dynamo. I don’t know about you, but I certainly did not see this matchup coming.
This is the first playoff meeting between these two teams. This season, these two have only played twice, and whoever wins this game will play Columbus in the MLS Cup.
Let’s get into tonight’s matchup.
The starting 11 for LAFC are Crepeau, Hollingshead, Murillo, Chiellini, Palacios, Tillman, Sanchez, Acosta, Olivera, Vela, and Golden Boot recipient Denis Bouanga.
The starting 11 for Houston includes Clark, Dorsey, Sviatchenko, Micael, Escobar, Herrera, Artur, Carrasquilla, Bassi, Quinones, and Baird.
We can only hope this game doesn’t end the way it did last season for the LAFC goalkeeper, with a broken leg.
There was an incredible opportunity in the second minute of the game made by veteran player Carlos Vela, but it was deflected off of the crossbar. Vela got another chance in the fourth minute. Although it looked like a goal, it was off-side (which happened three times this game for him). LAFC really pushed to get the upper hand early on during the match.
Crepeau made a fantastic save in the 7th minute. LAFC quickly regained possession and got the ball back to Houston’s end.
LAFC player Carlos Vela pushed for a goal in this match. He hasn’t scored a goal since August 2023. There are also rumors floating around the 34-year-old is considering retirement, with his contract ending with the season. Assuming the rumors are true, this increases the stakes for the player. Carols Vela is also the last remaining player from the original team since its formation in 2018.
At the 25th minute, the only offensive statistic that Houston had over LAFC was possession at 67% and LAFC at 33%.
There was a nasty collision between Vela and the Houston goalkeeper in the 30th minute. Vela was off-side, which cancelled out whatever happened afterward the collision. Luckily, no serious injuries occurred for either player. Vela is the only player for LAFC who has played in all 11 playoff games.
In the 44th minute, Hollingshead managed to fling LAFC to the lead 1-0. Six minutes of stoppage time was added to the first half.
Halftime stats: LAFC v HOU
Offense:
Total Shots: 9 v 5
Shots on Goal: 3 v 3
Inside the Box: 7 v 1
Outside the Box: 2 v 4
Possession: 35% v 65%
Crosses: 7 v 2
Corners: 4 v 0
Offsides: 3 v 1
Defense:
Fouls: 6 v 4
Shots Blocked: 0 v 2
Tackles: 17 v 17
Saves: 3 v 2
Yellow/Red Cards
Yellow Cards: 0 v 1
*per CBS Sports
The second half started off with a bang when Houston had to substitute one of their players due to suspicion of concussion.
Houston stacked up the yellow cards with a second yellow card in the 71st minute against Hector Herrera, after which he got in the referee’s face. It was surprising to see that he wasn’t one of the substitutions with how heated he became.
Unfortunately for Houston, they sealed their fate after an own goal in the 80th minute made by Franco Escobar after he slid his foot to attempt a deflection, 2-0. If you watched the game, you could see the instant regret in his demeanor.
Eight minutes of stoppage time were added to the second half. Unfortunately for Houston, LAFC was just too much for them, not even allowing them a single goal, crowning them Western Conference champions for the second consecutive season.
Full-Time stats: LAFC v HOU
Offense:
Total Shots: 18 v 10
Shots on Goal: 6 v 5
Inside the Box: 15 v 3
Outside the Box: 3 v 7
Possession: 38% v 62%
Crosses: 13 v 14
Corners: 10 v 3
Offsides: 4 v 1
Defense:
Fouls: 15 v 8
Shots Blocked: 3 v 3
Tackles: 13 v 22
Saves: 5 v 5
Yellow/Red Cards
Yellow Cards: 0 v 2
*per CBS Sports
LAFC will face Columbus next week in Ohio, on December 9th, for the MLS championship match.
One thing interesting to note about the LAFC v Columbus match is that Columbus just signed former LAFC player Diego Rossi this season.
Can LAFC pull off a second consecutive MLS Cup win or will Rossi give Columbus an edge? It’s going to be a match you’re not going to want to miss.