MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(Los Angeles) – LAFC and Houston scored eight minutes apart in the second half and ultimately battled to a 1-1 tie Saturday night before a capacity crowd at Bank of California Stadium.

LAFC dominated the game but was unable to produce more than Jose Cifuentes goal in the 50th minute. It was enough for a tie but not enough for a victory.

Diego Rossi had a couple of chances early for LAFC but his kick was wide right in the fourth minute and wide left in the 11th as he got free on the left side.

In the 23rd minute Eduard Atuesta let one fly from distance but it was wide left as well. In the 34th Carlos Vela set up Mark-Anthony Kaye with a nice cross in the box in front of the net but Kaye was unable to take advantage as his effort was high and sailed over the net. 

One minute of stoppage time was added in the first half but neither side could break through and the teams went into the locker room tied at zero. 

Cifuentes then took advantage of a corner kick taking control of it and sending it by Houston goalkeeper Marko Maric to draw first blood for LAFC in the 50th minute. 

Eight minutes later the Dynamo, undeterred, tied it when Fafa Picault fought through a hard check and dished the ball to Maximiliano Urruti in the middle who found the back of the net. 

Over the final 30 plus minutes neither LAFC or the Dynamo had many chances to take the lead. Five minutes of stoppage time was added.  

Rossi had his best chance of the night when he had a clean look in front of the net. He got his leg into it, but ripped it high and it flew over the top of the crossbar.

The numbers showed that LAFC controlled the match. They outshot Houston 15-2 and had more shots on goal 4-2. They had possession of the ball 65 percent of the time but on this night it was only good enough for a deadlock.

With the draw LAFC is now 2-3-3 while the Dynamo is 3-3-3.