The Houston Dynamo begin a stretch pivotal to their playoff hopes when they visit Southern California to play the first of back-to-back games against road-weary Los Angeles FC.

The Dynamo (10-8-7, 37 points) are coming off a 1-0 home defeat against Toronto FC, a result that dropped manager Ben Olsen’s group to eighth in the Western Conference standings.

And although the Dynamo have one match in hand against five of the seven teams above them, they may need points from this home-and-home against the defending West champions if they are going to reach a second consecutive postseason.

“We understand that they’re a very good team. They continue to put themselves in finals year after year because they’ve proven that they’re one of the best teams in this league,” Olsen said. “But we’re healthy, and I think we have a lot to prove right now. We understand that points are valuable. Every point counts right now to try to put ourselves in the postseason.”

The Dynamo will also be looking to avenge a 2-0 loss to LAFC in last year’s Western Conference final, after beating the Black-and-Gold twice in the 2023 regular season. And they’ll be hoping for a first MLS goal from summer striker signing Ezequiel Ponce, who scored once in Leagues Cup play.

Meanwhile, LAFC (14-5-5, 47 points) may be battling some fatigue after a busy week.

On Wednesday night, manager Steve Cherundolo’s group gutted out a 1-0 U.S. Open Cup semifinal victory at the Seattle Sounders via Denis Bouanga’s late penalty kick.

That came three days after a 3-1 defeat at Columbus in Sunday night’s Leagues Cup final, in which the Black and Gold conceded twice in second-half stoppage time.

“I think our LAFC players are monsters, and they showed great heart tonight,” Cherundolo said after Wednesday’s win. “Skill, control, control of their emotions, and the physical side of the game as well to beat a very good Sounders team on a very difficult surface.”

Bouanga went 90 minutes in both games, but Cherundolo will have to weigh the benefit of rotating his star player against his team-leading 16 goals.

Olivier Giroud, France’s all-time leading scorer, could also make his MLS debut after he first took the field for his side in four matches at the Leagues Cup.

–Field Level Media