On Saturday, the Los Angeles Galaxy will be taking their high power offense to the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. Los Angeles will be looking to secure the three points against the bewildered Dynamo defense.
The Galaxy is led by the inform Robbie Keane, in the last two MLS victories he has completed two hat-tricks. The Irishman will be facing a team that has allowed six goals in four games in the month of July.
In the Dynamo’s last two games, they have given up five goals and have only scored one. The Galaxy’s offense has exploded in the last two games with a combination of nine.
Their defense, regardless of Omar Gonzalez absences, has been holding its ground. In this month they have been scored on four times by three different clubs. Barcelona F.C., Club America and the San Jose Earthquakes have found ways to beat their backline.
For the Galaxy, they will be facing a Houston team that might be on the verge of a change in momentum. The arrival of Mexican striker Erick “Cubo” Torres will give the goal deprived club a needed boost.
However, the question that now remains is how long it will take him to get accustomed to his new surroundings.
Dynamo head coach Owen Coyle has made it clear that the former Chivas USA forward will play against the defending champs on Saturday. However, it is not certain whether Torres will start.
“He’ll [Erick “Cubo” Torres] certainly be involved tomorrow, I don’t anticipate that he’ll start tomorrow,” Coyle told Major League Soccer. “It won’t be too long until he’s ready to start games. We’ve got to understand that obviously when he was on loan at Chivas Guadalajara he probably never played as many starts as he would have liked.”
However, it only takes one goal for a forward to snap out of a funk.
Los Angeles, by Sunday morning, might be in first place of the Western Conference if they take care of business at Houston.
Plus they will need the help from the Portland Timber. The Timbers will need to beat or draw against FC Dallas at Frisco, Texas on Saturday for the Galaxy to possibly be the number one team in the West.
The Galaxy’s road to victory:
The Los Angeles midfield has been controlling their MLS rivals with ease. However, L.A. improves even more with Steven Gerrard playing more games and getting familiar with his new teammates.
For the Dynamo, this can only translate to bad news. Gerrard, in one MLS game already, has two assists and a goal to his name. Now against a vulnerable defense, he will be looking to increase his stats.
The former Liverpool captain performance against the Dynamo will be the deciding factor if the Galaxy earns the crucial three points.
The Dynamo’s road to victory:
Houston will have to live by the counter and hope that forward Will Bruin continues his goal scoring streak. Against the Galaxy, their midfield will spend most of the time chasing L.A.
The Dynamo’s best bet will rely with the scrappy midfielder Ricardo Clark. Houston will need the former U.S. international to force turnovers from the Galaxy midfield to start attacks.
Clark will carry the heavy responsibility of making sure that L.A. does not get in to rhythm. If Clark and the Dynamo fail to do so, then it will be a long Saturday night at the BBVA Compass Stadium.
Prediction: L.A. 4-0 Houston