LAFC vs. Houston Dynamo
Saturday, Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. PT
🏟: BMO Stadium - Los Angeles, CA
🕹: Fields LA & Level Up Arcade open 5:30-7:30 p.m. PT prematch and 90 minutes post game.
🎪: Stick around after the match to cheer on LA and Houston's Special Olympics Unified Teams! Kickoff at 10 p.m. PT. Mercadito Northgate will remain open to provide food and beverage service for those cheering on our Special Olympians.
After a 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup Semifinals on Wednesday, LAFC will return to MLS action for the first time in over a month when the club hosts the Houston Dynamo this Saturday at BMO Stadium.
The Black & Gold will be competing in its third competition within a week, having played in the Leagues Cup 2024 Final last Sunday before securing its spot in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup Final on Wednesday.
With 10 games remaining in the 2024 regular season, LAFC (14W-5L-5D) is currently second in the Western Conference with 47 points from 24 matches played.
LAFC has a 6W-3L-5D record against the Dynamo, all-time. Their most recent encounter was the 2023 Western Conference Final in which LAFC triumphed 2-0 on the way to its second consecutive MLS Cup Final appearance.
The Dynamo In Depth:
Led by head coach Ben Olsen, the Dynamo are striving to secure their second straight postseason appearance after a five-year absence (2018-22).
Houston (10W-8L-7D) is currently in eighth place in the Western Conference with 37 points from 25 matches played. In their latest match, the Dynamo fell 1-0 to Toronto FC on Saturday at Shell Energy Stadium, despite generating more possession and shots on goal than the visitors.
Twenty-two-year-old forward Aliyu Ibrahim leads Houston with six goals and four assists, while Latif Blessing, a 2022 MLS Cup Champion with the Black & Gold, has added five goals.
The Black & Gold Can Win If:
It can handle the challenge of playing three games in a seven-day span. The Black & Gold will benefit from returning to its home crowd at BMO Stadium, where it has lost only once in 2024.
As LAFC wraps up a grueling stretch of six games in 19 days, it will rely on its stalwart three-centerback structure and the relentless drive of Denis Bouanga, who is on the hunt for back-to-back MLS Golden Boot awards. Bouanga, with 16 regular-season goals to his name in 2024, is just one goal behind leaders Cristian Arango and Christian Benteke.
The Dynamo Can Win If:
They score first and seize control of a game played in a challenging away environment. With six total road victories this season, and only one loss in their last six away matches (3W-1L-2D), the Dynamo have proven they can perform away from home. Houston will look to capitalize on any signs of fatigue shown by the hosts.
