LA Galaxy miss MLS Cup playoffs after blowing lead vs. Houston Dynamo

Two Ola Kamara goals in three minutes should have been enough for the LA Galaxy to outlast the Houston Dynamo Sunday afternoon and advance to the MLS Cup 2018 playoffs. Instead three unanswered strikes from a lethal Dynamo attack relegated LA to watching the postseason on TV in stunning fashion.

Dom Kinnear’s squad started off strong if a bit too eager, but after several close chances including a point-blank range effort from Ibrahimovic, LA went ahead off a glancing header from Ola Kamara. The Norwergian international doubled the Galaxy’s lead moments later off a pinpoint cross from Ashley Cole.

LA were the better team in the first half but came out flat and Romell Quioto took advantage in the 57th minute, unbalancing Rolf Feltscher before smashing a low finish inside Bingham’s near post. Romain Alessandrini gave up a penalty kick when he booted fan favorite AJ DeLaGarza inside the box, and just like that Mauro Manotas leveled the match.

Six minutes later Manotas got his brace, ghosting inside the box to tap home from point-blank range.

Even with nine minutes of stoppage time, there was no comeback. LA are out of the MLS Cup playoffs for the second year in a row.