LAFC dealt with a previously unknown weather delay at home, but that delay likely helped their prospects, as they defeated the Houston Dynamo 4-2 at Banc of California Stadium on Friday.
With the win, LAFC made a case to move up in the standings, as they battle Western Conference leaders FC Dallas and Sporting KC for a top two seed.
The Dynamo opened the scoring, against the run of play, in the 33rd minute. A scramble in and around the LAFC box ended with Mauro Manotas smashing his angled shot into the net.
Three minutes after Manotas' goal, the game went into a weather delay -- the first ever at the stadium -- due to lightning in the area around the stadium. The delay lasted a total of one hour and 44 minutes.
LAFC seemed to regroup during the delay, and hit paydirt shortly after the restart. In the 43rd minute, Carlos Vela drew a penalty on Dynamo goalkeeper Tyler Deric. The Mexican stepped up to the spot himself, and buried it to tie the game before halftime. The home side took the lead shortly after the restart, as Vela sent a cross in that was tapped in by Adama Diomande.
They added an insurance tally shortly after, as Walker Zimmerman continued his rich vein of form, scoring his fourth goal in four games to make it 3-1. Vela added a casual chip, before Houston substitute Andrew Wenger pulled a goal back to make it 4-2.
Goals
- 33' – HOU – Mauro Manotas | WATCH
- 44' – LAFC – Carlos Vela | WATCH
- 53' – LAFC – Adama Diomande | WATCH
- 58' – LAFC – Walker Zimmerman | WATCH
- 78' – LAFC – Carlos Vela | WATCH
- 80' – HOU – Andrew Wenger | WATCH
Three Things
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
: More attention has been paid of late to the connection (or lack thereof) between Vela and Diomande, so seeing the duo connect on the go-ahead goal is big indeed.
Next Up
- LAFC: Sunday, October 21 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (5 pm ET | TSN1/4 - TV & streaming info)
- HOU: Sunday, October 21 vs. Seattle Sounders (5 pm ET | TV & streaming info)
