CONCACAF Champions League disappointment and a five-game slump have taken some of the wind out of LAFC’s sails in recent weeks, but they’ll have a chance to steady the ship against the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday at BMO Stadium.
The Dynamo — seventh in the West standings — have already had a hand in L.A.’s skid, beating the defending champs 4-0 in Houston on Saturday with top scorer Amine Bassi among the goals again.
LAFC are still strong contenders in MLS Cup odds, but their unbeaten run in March and April feels like a distant memory after losing four of their last five contests and failing to score in their last three games. With that said, Houston will prove to be an excellent bounce-back spot.
Find out more in my free LAFC vs Houston Dynamo betting picks and predictions for this June 14 showdown.
LAFC vs Houston Dynamo best odds
LAFC vs Houston Dynamo picks and predictions
Among the many messages coming out of the LAFC locker room after Saturday’s 4-0 no-show against the Dynamo, veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini suggested that kind of beatdown could be a valuable lesson. On Wednesday, they’ll have an unusually quick opportunity to show what they’ve learned in this rematch against Houston.
The hosts simply have too many experienced players to let that loss linger, and their 5-0-2 record at home in MLS action this season is a positive indicator. Sure, the two-legged CONCACAF Champions League final seemed to take a toll on LAFC as they fell to Mexican side Leon, but I’m counting on a much better, more focused performance from Steve Cherundolo’s men here.
LAFC’s shrinking injury list is another reason to lean towards a home win, with midfielder Kellyn Acosta and defender Aaron Long among those expected to return to the starting XI to face Houston.
Still, the Dynamo have shown plenty of scoring punch lately, with eight goals in their last two games, and both Bassi and Nelson Quiñones provided capable support for lone striker Ibrahim Aliyu over the weekend. While this could be a long night for Houston defensively, the goal threat is there at the other end.
But this has the feel of a ‘get right’ spot for the hosts. Given the hefty price for the LAFC moneyline, I’m pairing that with BTTS in what should be an exciting, open battle between two teams eyeing a deep playoff run in the West.
My best bet: LAFC moneyline + both teams to score (+187 at bet365)
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LAFC vs Houston Dynamo side analysis
One glance at the moneyline price confirms oddsmakers are expecting LAFC to respond on Wednesday, with this immediate shot at payback after the weekend embarrassment in Houston.
The Dynamo’s big underdog status also stems from their road struggles this season, with Ben Olsen’s men 0-6-2 away from home. A trip to BMO Stadium to face a wounded LAFC side doesn’t feel like a recipe for finally landing a road win, and Houston hasn’t won there in its last six trips.
As much as anything, sloppiness has plagued the Dynamo in away games this year, and there was more evidence of that as they conceded goals in the first minute of each half in a 6-2 loss to Vancouver in late May. The visitors can’t afford to start slowly again here.
Ultimately, this is no time for panic in L.A. Two of its recent losses came in the CONCACAF Champions League final against Leon, and while the schedule is jam packed over the next month, this fixture is a prime opportunity to get back on track.
LAFC vs Houston Dynamo Over/Under analysis
We got four goals in the teams’ weekend clash and it’s reasonable to expect a similar level of goalmouth action here — though I see LAFC getting the lead this time and staying on the front foot. Cherundolo’s men had 58% of possession in Saturday’s meeting, only to be stunned by the ruthless Dynamo.
Houston has served up a string of high-scoring games over the past month. The 4-0 win on Saturday followed a 4-1 U.S. Open Cup victory over the Chicago Fire. In fact, the Dynamo’s last six games have all featured three or more goals — and four of those have cashed in the Over on 3.5 total goals.
But those trends are a little deceptive given the visitor's rocky road form. Houston hasn’t won in the league away from Shell Energy Stadium this season and has scored three total goals across its last four MLS road outings. Aliyu is still looking for his first Dynamo goal after joining the team from NK Lokomotiva Zagreb last month.
Meanwhile, the goals have dried up for LAFC lately, despite Denis Bouanga sitting on 10 league goals. The hosts have been shut out in their last three games, and they only had three shots on target against the Dynamo on the weekend. It’s time for Carlos Vela and Stipe Biuk to do more of the heavy lifting.
LAFC vs Houston Dynamo game info
| Location: | BMO Stadium, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date: | Wednesday, June 14, 2023 |
| Time: | 10:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Apple TV |
LAFC vs Houston Dynamo key injuries
LAFC: Kellyn Acosta M (Probable), Aaron Long D (Probable), Timothy Tillman M (Probable), Sergi Palencia D (Probable), Maxime Crepeau G (Out).
Houston Dynamo: Ifunanyachi Achara F (Out), Teenage Hadebe D (Out), Tate Schmitt D (Out).
LAFC vs Houston Dynamo weather
It’s expected to be clear, dry, and cool in L.A. on Wednesday as these two teams collide again, and temperatures should dip into the low 60s at kick off.
