Perspective is the key for the Los Angeles Galaxy, who have not lost a match in nearly a month but have not won one in that span either.
The Galaxy (5-2-7, 22 points) have played to a draw in four consecutive matches, most recently a 0-0 final against Charlotte FC last Saturday.
After playing four of its past five on the road, Los Angeles returns home for two straight and four of the next five and will be looking to make the most of it, beginning with Saturday’s match against the Houston Dynamo.
The Galaxy are 2-0-3 at home, one of just three MLS sides who have not absorbed a loss on their own pitch this season.
“This is a big phase for us to really build some momentum in all ways, being in front of our fans and being at home for this next stretch,” Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said, according to The Galactic Tribune. “Obviously, we’ve got to go on the road once more, but hopefully build on the momentum and get some points.”
Joseph Paintsil is second on the team with four goals but enters Saturday’s match on a four-game drought, recording just one assist in that stretch.
The Dynamo (5-5-3, 18 points) could also use the three points on the table. The club is eighth in the Western Conference and a victory could bump them as high as fifth.
Houston is coming off a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas last week and is 1-3-2 in its past six MLS matches. The Dynamo took a 1-0 lead in first-half stoppage time on a goal from Amine Bassi before Dallas tied it in the second half.
“This is a lesson-learning moment because we’re tired of dropping points,” FC Dallas coach Ben Olsen said. “That’s not a happy group in the locker room after tying against a team that we should beat at home.
“We have a lot of veteran guys on this team who have been around the block to see some ups and downs. Nobody is hitting the alarm bells yet, but we’ve got to clean some things up.”
Offense has been hard to come by for the Dynamo, whose 12 goals scored are the fewest in the Western Conference. Ibrahim Aliyu leads the team with four goals. Bassi, who led the team with 10 tallies last season, has just one.
Goal prevention has been Houston’s strength. The Dynamo have allowed just 13 goals, tied for second fewest in MLS and best in the conference.
–Field Level Media