LA Galaxy

Starting XI presented by Modelo: Houston Dynamo FC vs. LA Galaxy | October 20, 2021

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Lineup Notes:

  • Starting in goal is Jonathan Bond. The Englishman has tallied 105 saves and three shutouts in 26 games played in his first season with LA.  
  • Julian Araujo, one of the best right backs in MLS, gets the start. Araujo ranks second in the league in assists (6) amongst all defenders and ranks fourth in the league in tackles won (48). 
  • Playing in the heart of defense is Nick DePuy, who has tallied one assist in a career-high 21 games played (14 starts) for LA this season. 
  • Next to DePuy is* Derrick Williams, who made his first start for the Galaxy in the win 2-1 win over Portland on Oct. 16 since starting and playing 71 minutes against the Colorado Rapids on Sept. 11.  Playing at left back is Niko Hämäläinen, who has made 10 appearances (9 starts) for the Galaxy since joining on loan from Queens Park Rangers. 
  • On the right side of the attack is Homegrown midfielder Efrain Alvarez, who has tallied two goals and three assists in 21 appearances (13 starts) for the Galaxy. 
  • Captaining the Galaxy is Jonathan dos Santos, who will make his 99th regular-season appearance for the Galaxy against Houston. 
  • Playing next to Dos Santos is Sacha Kljestan, who tallied the game-winning goal against Portland on Oct. 16. The goal marked Kljestan’s third penalty-kick goal this year for LA.  
  • On the left side of the attack is Sebastian Lletget, who has registered 28 goals and 27 assists in 172 games played (137 starts) across all competitions in his career for the Galaxy  
  • Playing up top is Kévin Cabral, who has tallied four goals and one assist in 23 games played (20 starts) in his first season for the Galaxy.
  • Making his 18th appearance (17th start) of the year is Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez**, who has notched a team-leading 13 goals scored and two assists this year.

Game Notes:

  • The LA Galaxy (12-11-6, 42 points, -5 GD) sit in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, level on points with fifth-place Real Salt Lake (12-11-6, 39 points, 3 GD). 
  • Wednesday’s match marks the 34th MLS regular-season meeting between LA and Houston Dynamo FC, with the Galaxy trailing the series 11-12-10. 
  • In 17 matches on the road at Houston, the Galaxy hold a 5-8-4 record. 
  • In the last three regular-season meetings between the two clubs dating back to Feb. 29, 2020, the series is tied 0-0-3.
  • The last time the Galaxy won on the road in Houston, Alan Gordon tallied the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win at PNC Stadium on Oct. 16, 2016. 
  • In the first meeting between LA and Houston during the 2021 campaign, the Galaxy battled Dynamo FC to a 1-1 draw at Dignity Health Sports Park on Sept. 15. 
  • Javier Hernandez tallied a goal, while Dejan Joveljić notched an assist in the draw. 
  • In 14 games played on the road during the 2021 campaign, the Galaxy hold a 4-7-3 record. 
  • The Galaxy rank tied for 13th in the league in goals scored (41). 
  • As a team, the Galaxy have scored six headed goals. 
  • LA has tallied three goals from outside the box. 
  • The Galaxy have registered 36 goals scored inside the box this season. 
  • Dating back to the beginning of the 2015 MLS regular season, Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney ranks first amongst all MLS head coaches in wins (97). Sporting KC’s Peter Vermes ranks second (94), while Philadelphia’s Jim Curtain ranks third (89). Orlando’s Oscar Pareja (85) ranks fourth, while Seattle’s Brian Schmetzer (84) rounds out the top five. 
  • With one more win, Vanney (99-79-54, .543) will become the 12th coach in MLS history to win 100 career MLS regular-season games.
  • Vanney has a 1-4-2 record in seven MLS regular-season games managed against Houston during his time as a manager in MLS (2014-Present). 
  • Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez ranks tied for sixth in MLS in goals scored (13) in 17 appearances during the 2021 campaign. 
  • Chicharito ranks second in MLS in goals per 90 minutes played (0.83) with a minimum of 500 minutes played, behind only D.C. United’s Ola Kamara (1.06). 
  • In nine games played on the road during the 2021 campaign, Chicharito has tallied six goals. 
  • Julian Araujo has appeared in a career-high 27 games played (27 starts) for LA, ranking first on the team in assists (6) and ranking fourth in the league in tackles won (48) during the 2021 campaign. 
  • Victor Vazquez leads the team with 56 chances created in 24 games played.
  • Dejan Joveljić has notched two goals and two assists in 11 regular-season games played (5 starts) in his first season with LA. 
  • Sebastian Lletget is the club’s active leader with 153 regular-season games played (127 starts), adding 21 goals and 26 assists for the Galaxy. 
  • Jonathan dos Santos has tallied seven and 12 assists in 100 games played (88 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy since joining the club in 2017. 
  • With his next appearance, Dos Santos will appear in his 99th regular-season appearance for LA. 
  • Kévin Cabral has tallied four goals and one assist in 23 games played (20 starts) for LA in his first season for the club. 
  • Rayan Raveloson’s ranks tied for fifth in the league in headed goals (3) this year. 
  • Amongst all MLS goalkeepers, Jonathan Bond ranks third in the league in saves (105) during the 2021 campaign. 
  • Samuel Grandsir is the only player on the roster to appear in every match this season (29). 
  • Grandsir ranks tied for fifth in the league this season in shots that have hit the woodwork (4). 
  • In 21 games played (13 starts), Efrain Alvarez has tallied two goals and three assists.
  • Sacha Kljestan has notched four goals and four assists in 26 games played (12 starts) in his second season in LA. 
  • Daniel Steres is the Galaxy’s second-longest tenured player with 139 career regular-season appearances (127 starts). 
  • Seventeen different players have made their Galaxy debut this season under Head Coach Greg Vanney. 

Storylines:

  • Will Greg Vanney win his 100th regular-season game as a manager in MLS against Houston?
  • Can the Galaxy build off their win over Portland entering their final five games of the regular season?
  • Will Julian Araujo continue to impress in defense?
  • Can Chicharito continue knocking in goals for the Galaxy?
  • Can the Galaxy earn their first win at Houston since a 1-0 win over Dynamo FC on Oct. 16, 2016? 

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