Ola Kamara’s two goals got the Galaxy off and running but it wasn’t enough. (Photo by Duane Barker.)
By Tim Peterson
(Carson) – The Galaxy let a 2-0 lead get away in the second half and fell to Houston 3-2 Sunday at Stub Hub Center. With a win the Galaxy would have made the playoffs. Instead they are done for the season.
Ola Kamara scored twice in three minutes to give the Galaxy the two goal advantage.
In the 27th minute he took a cross in front of the net and headed it in by Dynamo keeper Joe Willis. After David Bingham made a save at the other end for the Galaxy Kamara scored again. This time he fielded a nice dish on the run from Ashley Cole and slammed it by Willis in the 30th minute.
It was only a matter of time before the Galaxy scored. They were all over Willis from the opening bell. Kamara was wide left in the sixth minute and Willis turned away Zlatan Ibrahimovic a minute later on a shot attempt right in front.
In the 19th Ibrahimovic had another opportunity but again Willis came out to make a stop. Sebastian Lletget fired one high over the net in the 22nd and another drive was halted by Willis two minutes later.
He was scrambling all over the box before Kamara hit him with the two goal spurt.
Two minutes of additional time was added in the first half but nothing else came across. LA took the two goal advantage into the break.
The Galaxy outshot the Dynamo 10-3 in the first half and dominated the time of possession 57 percent to 42.
Houston got on the board in the 58th minute when Romell Quioto beat Bingham from the left side after he broke through the Galaxy defense.
Daniel Steres had a good opportunity off a corner kick in the 63rd minute but his header shot high over the net. Less than a minute later Willis nearly stood on his head to save a bullet by Emmanuel Boateng that was drilled from the top of the circle. Those two saves by Willis turned out to be huge for the Dynamo as they battled back.
Houston’s Mauro Manotas then scored two goals in a six minute span. First he tied it on a penalty kick when Roman Alessandrini fouled A.J. Delagarza in the box. Manotas rammed it by Bingham on the free kick in the 73rd minute.
In the 79th minute Manotas got loose down the middle, rushed the goal and booted it by Bingham for a 3-2 lead.
Nine minutes of additional time were added but the Galaxy couldn’t take advantage although they had several opportunities. Houston had to play with ten in the ladder part of the game when Ronaldo Pena got ejected but the Dynamo was still able to hold off LA to get the victory.
The Galaxy made a push towards down the stretch in an attempt to make the playoffs but they fell two goals short.
The Galaxy finished the regular season 13-12-9 and now looks forward to 2019. The Dynamo ended up 10-16-8.
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