Houston Dynamo vs Los Angeles FC Prediction: This could go either way

Coming up on September 8, 2024, is an important test for either team: Houston Dynamo versus Los Angeles FC. Houston Dynamo enters this match in 7th place in the West with 11 wins, 7 draws, and 8 losses, looking to carry on with the recent 2-0 win against Los Angeles FC, which proved they could take charge of a game even away from their comfort zone. On the contrary, LAFC sits second in the Western Conference on 14 wins, 5 draws, and 6 losses, and it will be looking for revenge and trying to secure a position near the top of the standings.

Houston Dynamo come into this game with a patchy run, having lost 3 and won 2 of their last 5 matches. This emphatic result in the case of a recent 2-0 win over LAFC, shaped by stringent discipline in defense and the effective use of the possession-63%-was touted for substantial moments. Indeed, Houston did set a trend for matches with few corners, constantly fighting less than 10.5 corners in six consecutive matches. This may reveal a tactical shift in them to cautious play, relying on structured defense and selective forward surges.

For Houston Dynamo, one should expect a tactical approach along the lines of their recent success against LAFC. They are likely to adopt a disciplined, possession-based strategy, focusing on controlling the midfield and limiting LAFC's opportunities to counter-attack. The defense for Houston has been tight; they limited LAFC to just 6 shots on target in the last match. They have to press high in intensity and balance the defense with attacking.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles FC will be eager to get back on their feet after a surprise home defeat at the hands of Houston. Although the team are in pretty good form overall, having won 3 of their last 5 games, the defeat did expose some weaknesses, such as failing to dominate possession-their share was a mere 37% against Houston-and failing to put away their chances. LAFC's strong point has been fast starts: they have scored the opening goal in five of their last seven, but this night against Houston may be a fair indication that Steve Cherundolo's men are at least going to take another look at how they try to break down well-organized defenses.

Los Angeles FC would want to get back into attacking fluidity since this has been the identity of their successful season so far. Expect them to push for a more aggressive start, press high to disrupt the possession game of Houston. A player like Carlos Vela or Denis Bouanga should be able to break down this Houston defense with their creativity and spaces to play in the final third. But Los Angeles FC needs to work on their solid defense, particularly in transition because this is where they were caught out in the last meeting.

Greater intrigue is added to this match by the head-to-head between Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles FC, in which LAFC lead 6-5 with 4 draws in the last 15 matches between the two clubs. This relatively even record makes for a very competitive fixture with each team finding ways to outdo each other.

This was more of a dominant rivalry for LAFC in the early parts, but Houston closed that gap somewhat lately, including a 2-0 win in their last visit to LAFC's home turf. Noticeably, Houston always does well against LAFC when playing at home, as they have managed to garner some important points against them. And this trend only points to the fact that while LAFC may be strong on paper, Houston has what it takes to pose a challenge, especially on home turf.

With reasons for both teams needing the points, this game promises to be a battle of tactics. Houston's confidence from the fresh victory added to home advantage may give them an edge, but the quality of LAFC and their determination for revenge should not be underrated.

The best high-probability bet would be "Under 10.5 Corners". Both sides have been going into matches with recent low corners, so this is a good option. There is also some merit in betting on "Both Teams to Score" with such substantial attacking talent on both sides and the magnitude of the match at hand.

• Under 11 Corners @ 1.61 Odds
• Under 10.5 Corners @ 1.667 Odds
• Home/Away Win & Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.6 Odds