Six points from six in recent weeks against Eastern Conference opponents for LAFC. But now the Black & Gold head to Houston for a Western Conference matchup. Nine points separate LAFC and Houston, with the Dynamo holding a game in hand. Three more points would send LAFC to the top of the Western Conference standings.
Here are the Toyota Keys to the Match for LAFC's trip to Houston:
Pick Your Poison
Alberth Elis and Mauro Manotas are the danger men for Houston up front. Both attackers have eight goals this season, leading the Dynamo.
There's not a glaring weakness to either player's game. Both are skilled dribblers, can play on the counter or through buildup, and both have pace and athleticism - which in the Houston heat can be a killer to visiting sides. Manotas is the hotter of the two right now with three goals in his last two matches, while Elis hasn't scored in the last three but is third in MLS in shots with 60. If you can control the supply to the attackers by bottling up playmaker Tomas Martinez, you can greatly increase your chance of getting a result in H-Town.
Continue To Look For The Final Pass
Adama Diomande is tearing MLS defenses to shreds through five matches this season. With a hat trick against Philadelphia the last time out, the Norwegian has seven goals already to his name. But it hasn't been all a one-man wrecking crew for LAFC.
Dio provides a focal point of the attack that allows wide players and those in front of opposing backlines time and space to work. Against the Union, we saw some really nice movements between attackers creating angles for the final pass. The results were two tap-in goals for the big striker. Dio is going to command attention, and LAFC has to keep looking for quick combinations in and around the box to force Houston defenders to commit before playing that final ball for the finish.
The Heat Is On
Houston in July? Not what I would call optimal soccer weather.
That being said, LAFC already had a scorcher deep in the heart of Texas just a month prior. They should know exactly what to expect. Much of the importance has to be on prematch prep, especially after playing just three days earlier. The training staff should have the squad in the best possible shape heading in, but it will be up to the players to manage their mentality throughout the match.
One of the toughest aspects for a team playing in intense heat is expending tons of energy without a reward. LAFC will need to make sure its effort translates to the scoresheet.
