LAFC vs. Houston Dynamo
2018 MLS Regular Season — Week 33
Banc of California Stadium — Los Angeles
October 12 - 10 pm ET
WATCH: ESPN+, MLS LIVE on DAZN (Canada)
Having already clinched a berth in the Audi 2018 MLS Cup playoffs, LAFC are looking to lock down one of the top two seeds in the Western Conference when they host a Houston Dynamo squad that is looking to finish the season strong after being eliminated from playoff contention.
LAFC are coming off a comprehensive 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids, becoming the fifth expansion side to clinch a playoff berth and the first since Bob Bradley’s Chicago Fire to earn 53 points in their inaugural season, while the Dynamo dropped a 4-1 decision to the Seattle Sounders Monday at CenturyLink Field.
This is the second all-time league meeting with the sides playing to a 2-2 draw at BBVA Compass Stadium on July 3. Latif Blessing and Mark-Anthony Kaye staked the visitors to a two-goal lead, but Mauro Manotas and Philippe Senderos struck two minutes apart in stoppage time to pull the hosts level.
- Expansion teams in history: How does LAFC compare?
- Rossi is ready for Friday
- MLS Team Of The Week: Dio, Zimmerman in squad
- Juan David Cabezas on listening to your body | Prepare 2 Play
LAFC
LAFC (15-8-8) officially booked their postseason ticket with a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Walker Zimmerman gave LAFC the early lead off a corner and Adama Diomande struck for a pair of goals on either side of halftime — his 10th and 11th goals of the season and first in nearly three months — to secure the road victory.
“We think we have a good team. If you want to compete at the end of the year, the first thing you have to do is make the playoffs,” Bradley said. “I think we’re excited, going in a good direction and ready to keep pushing this thing along.”
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: None
- International duty: GK - Luis Lopez
- Injury Report: OUT: GK - Quillan Roberts (right fibular fracture), M - Mark-Anthony Kaye (fractured ankle), M - Eduard Atuesta (concussion); QUESTIONABLE: F - Latif Blessing (left hip flexor strain)
Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3, right to left)
GK: Tyler Miller — Steven Beitashour, Danilo Silva, Walker Zimmerman, Jordan Harvey — Benny Feilhaber, Lee Nguyen, Aaron Kovar — Carlos Vela, Adama Diomande, Diego Rossi
Houston Dynamo
Houston (9-14-8) couldn’t build off the momentum of a 3-2 win over San Jose, falling to the Sounders, 4-1, Monday night in Seattle.
Will Bruin opened the scoring against his former club in the 18th minute, before Cristian Roldan sent the hosts into the locker room with a two-goal advantage in the 34th minute. Victor Rodriguez struck for a brace in a nine-minute span to make it 4-0 before DaMarcus Beasley pulled the Dynamo back with a late goal.
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: D - Leonardo, D - Adam Lundqvist, M - Boniek Garcia, M - Darwin Ceren
- International duty: F - Ronaldo Peña, F - Alberth Elis, F - Romell Quioto, D - Adolfo Machado, M - Arturo Alvarez
- Injury Report: OUT: D - Philippe Senderos (hamstring injury), M - Eric Alexander (left hamstring injury), D - Jared Watts (right hip injury), F - Mac Steeves (hip surgery); QUESTIONABLE: D - Leonardo (right adductor injury)
Projected Starting XI
(4-2-3-1, right to left)
GK: Joe Willis — Andrew Wenger, Leonardo, Kevin Garcia, DaMarcus Beasley — Oscar Boniek Garcia, Juan Cabezas — Eric Bird, Tomas Martinez, Memo Rodriguez — Mauro Manotas
All-Time Series
- This is the second all-time meeting with LAFC and the Houston Dynamo playing to a 2-2 draw at BBVA Compass Stadium on July 3.
Officials
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistant Referees: Frank Anderson, TJ Zablocki
4th Official: Baldomero Toledo
VAR: Kevin Stott
