Galaxy, on verge of clinching top playoff seed, face Dynamo
The Los Angeles Galaxy will try to lock up the top seed in the Western Conference Saturday when they travel to Houston to face the Dynamo on Decision Day.
Los Angeles (19-7-7, 64 points) has won three in a row and four of five as it prepares for the MLS Cup playoffs.
The Galaxy secured home-field advantage for Round 1 of the playoffs with a 2-1 win over Austin FC on Oct. 5.
Now, Los Angeles can clinch the top spot in the Western Conference with at least a draw in Houston.
"We've got to go there and we've got to get at least one point, so our mindset is we've got to try to keep our rhythm," Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney said.
"The Houston game is going to be the kickoff to that final preparation for the playoffs, and the game has plenty of significance and importance."
Brazilian forward Gabriel Pec has 29 goal contributions (15 goals, 14 assists), while Dejan Joveljic has 15 goals and six assists in 27 matches.
The Galaxy won the only other meeting between the two sides this season, 2-1, on May 25 in Carson, Calif.
A Dynamo win on Decision Day would secure Houston the fifth seed heading into the playoffs.
Houston (14-10-9, 51 points) enters Saturday's action one point up on the sixth-place Colorado Rapids. The Dynamo have just one win in their last three matches and can finish anywhere from fifth to seventh, depending on Saturday's results.
"The performance, I think, is where we need to be concerned with," Dynamo coach Ben Olsen said. "Making sure we have the right mentality, we give the players the right preparation week and making sure they're clear of what they need to do to get a good result and put on a good performance."
Nigerian forward Ibrahim Aliyu has a team-leading six goals and five assists in 33 matches, while midfielder Latif Blessing has five goals and an assist in 26 appearances this season.
