Houston Dynamo fall to LA Galaxy 3-0

 

Credit: Houston Dynamo 

HOUSTON (Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021) – Houston Dynamo FC lost to the LA Galaxy in their penultimate home game of the season by a final score of 3-0. The Dynamo play their last home game on October 31 against the Colorado Rapids. 

 

The Galaxy opened the scoring in the 39th minute as a result of a controversial penalty. With LA threatening inside the Dynamo penalty area, defender Maynor Figueroa slid to clear the ball away, making contact with the Galaxy’s Kevin Cabral afterwards, and the referee whistled for a penalty. The call was then reviewed by the Video Assistant Referee, who confirmed the foul. Sacha Kljestan took the LA penalty and slotted it into the lower left corner past goalkeeper Michael Nelson. 

 

The Galaxy doubled their lead in the first minute of first-half stoppage. Kljestan slid a through pass into Efrain Álvarez, who drove to the byline before crossing back toward the middle. His attempted cross ricocheted off of a Dynamo defender and into the back of the net for an own goal. 

 

At halftime, head coach Tab Ramos made two substitutions, including bringing on defender Adam Lundkvist, who had not played since he suffered a lower leg injury against FC Dallas on September 18.  

 

The Galaxy carried their momentum into the second half, as they scored early into the half when Chicharito found Cabral alone, streaking up the left side of the pitch. Cabral found the back of the net for the Galaxy’s third goal of the game. 

 

The Dynamo had a number of chances early in the game, none more dangerous than when forward Maxi Urruti stole the ball from the Galaxy inside of Houston’s attacking third in the 12th minute. He fed the ball to midfielder Darwin Quintero, who found Urruti with space for a shot, but his effort went over the crossbar.