HOUSTON, TX (September 27, 2017) – The Houston Dynamo got a dramatic draw against the LA Galaxy 3-3. LA looked like they were going to win their first road game since June 21st. It was not to be as an Albert Elis brace in the final 10 minutes tied the match. The Galaxy are now out of contention for the 2017 MLS Cup playoffs.
Albert Elis Brace Rescues A Point As Houston Dynamo Draw LA Galaxy 3-3
The Galaxy did something very uncharacteristic of late, and turned some good early play into a goal. Just three minutes in, a cross from Romain Alessandrini was deflected in by DaMarcus Beasley for an own goal.
Alessandrini would score himself in the 12th minute. Ashley Cole created a turnover at midfield and both players took of. The Frenchman split the center backs perfectly to run onto the pass from Cole and score.
Tomás Martínez pulled one back when he found some space in the box and slid the ball inside the post. That was after Houston hit the post on a previous attack.
Houston controlled much of the first half, but could not find an equalizer. It was 1-2 at half time.
Just minutes into the second half, the Galaxy again found a goal in transition. Giovani dos Santos made a great move around one defender an layed the ball on a platter for Bradford Jamieson IV who scored easily. It was 1-3 Galaxy.
Albert Elis made things interesting in the 84th minute. He won the ball and went at goal with speed. Clement Diop came off his line. Elis got around him, forcing Hugo Arellano to foul the striker. Elis converted the PK making it 2-3.
Get. In. #HOUvLA pic.twitter.com/01Jscv0HPa
— Houston Dynamo (@HoustonDynamo) September 28, 2017
Houston found their equalizer in the 88th minute. Albert Elis got his brace on a corner off a header. He rose up and attacked the ball with no Galaxy player challenging him in the air.
Neither team could take the lead in the final minutes and the match ended 3-3.
Scoring Summary:
3′ Los Angeles – DaMarcus Beasley (OG)
12′ Los Angeles – Romain Alessandrini, assisted by Ashley Cole
26′ Houston – Tomás Martínez, assisted by A.J. DeLaGarza and DaMarcus Beasley
47′ Los Angeles – Bradford Jamieson, assisted by Giovani dos Santos and Rafael Garcia
84′ Houston – Albert Ellis (PK)
88′ Houston – Albert Ellis, assisted by Vincente Sanchez
Last Word:
This was one of the more exciting matches both teams have played in awhile. The Galaxy offense showed life outside of Alessandrini, which was rare. Houston showed a lot of heart battling back to get a point. Still, they’ve yet to win a game since Hurricane Harvey hit the Continental U.S. They’ll need to start picking up more points if they want to make the playoffs.
The Galaxy on the other hand are now mathematically out of contention for the 2017 MLS Cup playoffs. They’ll now be playing exclusively for the 2018 season.
