Best Odds: 17/10
Bookmaker:
Meeting for the second time in the space of a few days, Houston will travel to California in the early hours of Thursday when they meet Los Angeles.
Los Angeles FC
Starting with the hosts, putting in a nightmare display in Texas last weekend, Los Angeles find themselves in the midst of a public crisis. Eventually getting hit with a 4-0 drumming at the Shell Energy Stadium, Steve Cherundolo’s men have come under a huge amount of scrutiny over the past month. Suffering Concaf Champions League heartbreak at the hands of Mexican outfit Leon on June 4th as they suffered a 3-1 aggregate defeat, the Falcons are now without a single win from any of their last five appearances across all competitions. With that extended rut stemming all the way back to May 20th, LAFC have also gained a recent reputation for their glaring struggles in the final third. Including a 0-0 stalemate against Atlanta last week, LAFC have remarkably failed to bag a single strike since opening June.
Team News
All missing out in Texas last weekend, Los Angeles are once again sweating over the fitness of Kellyn Acosta, Aaron Long, Timothy Tillman and Sergi Palencia. Likewise, yet to make a single MKS appearance this season, LAFC have confirmed that Maxime Crepeau will once again miss out here.
Although one-time Arsenal starlet Carlos Vela might have notched just a single goal in his last 11 outings across all competitions, the 34-year-old will once again spearhead Cherundolo’s charge on Thursday.
Houston Dynamo
As for the visitors, while Houston might have opened June in the midst of a struggle, the Dynamos have come roaring back in some style. Last seen storming their way to that stunning 4-0 romp against LAFC in Texas, Ben Olsen’s men will be desperate to produce a repeat display here. Likewise, extending on their US Open Cup adventure on June 6th as they secured a 4-1 victory away at Chicago, El Naranja, have certainly found a real clinical edge in the final third. Notching a quartet of goals in their back-to-back domestic victories, the mood in Olsen’s camp should be at a red-hot high. Once again tipped as a landslide contender to claim a play-off spot in 2023, the Western Conference outfit have impressed many across America this season. Losing just a pair of their last seven domestic contests, Houston will be looking to make another statement in midweek.
Team News
All dealing with long-term injury issues, Houston will travel to California in midweek without the trio of Tate Schmitt, Ifunanyachi Achara and Teenage Hadebe. Storming their way to that stunning 4-0 romp against LAFC a few days ago, Olsen could name the same starting XI here.
Once again finding the net in Texas last weekend and finding the net in each of his last three domestic appearances, Amine Bassi will have a key role to play in the early hours of Thursday.
Key Factors to Consider
