LA Galaxy outclassed by Houston Dynamo in 2-2 draw

The Galaxy have proven they can win this year. They just can’t seem to get it done at home.

With Giovani dos Santos, Jelle Van Damme, Daniel Steres, Brian Rowe, Baggio Husidic and Bradley Diallo all unavailable for Curt Onalfo, the Houston Dynamo held the Galaxy to a 2-2 draw Saturday night on AJ DeLaGarza’s return to the StubHub Center.

The Galaxy were outclassed by the Dynamo in the first half, with Houston enjoying comfortable possession while LA failed to create any danger in the final third. When DaMarcus Beasley’s blast outside the left corner of the box was spilled by Clement Diop and Mauro Manotas poked home, you could hardly say the goal wasn’t coming.

And yet, LA were able to equalize in the 35th minute off a classic counter-attack. Romain Alessandrini kept hold of possession around a crowded midfield before slipping a perfect through-ball into the path of Emmanuel Boateng, and with two touches, the Ghanian rounded keeper Tyler Deric and passed the ball into the net.

The second half was an unforgiving slugfest, with Houston desperate to get a road result while LA’s attack continued to sputter.

Once again it seemed inevitable the Dynamo would score, and in the 74th minute, Alberth Ellis smoked Hugo Arellano with a clever first touch before chipping a finish over Diop to gave Houston the lead.

What looked like the Dynamo’s first away win of the season was snatched away late in stoppage time as Romain Alessandrini was there at the back post to put away Bradley Jamieson IV’s low cross.