The LA Galaxy lost their final match of the 2018 regular season 3-2 against the Houston Dynamo. The match was a must-win contest the Galaxy needed all three points from in order to clinch a playoff spot.
LA’s lineup went unchanged from its last match, a 3-1 victory in Minnesota Oct.21, but designated player Giovani Dos Santos returned to the 18-man roster for the first time since September after dealing with an undisclosed injury.
The match started off well enough for the Galaxy. Forward Ola Kamara scored two goals within four minutes during the first half. His first goal was assisted by midfielders Romain Alessandrini and Jonathan Dos Santos, who combined on a corner kick play to send the ball to a perfect spot for Kamara to tap it home.
Kamara’s second of the night came from combination in the midfield, stemming from passes between Alessandrini and defender Ashley Cole. Cole received a return pass and sent a cross to Kamara, who struck the ball past Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis. The first half ended with an optimistic L.A. team up 2-0.
Then came a Houston-forward second half. Romell Quioto opened the scoring for Houston in the 57th minute, juking his way past defender Rolf Feltscher and nutmegging both Feltscher and Cole for the shot. It was a frustrating first goal for the Galaxy to concede, but the match only got worse for them from there.
In the 73rd minute, Houston defender and former LA Galaxy player A.J. DeLaGarza drew a penalty kick off a foul from Alessandrini. Houston forward Mauro Manotas converted the penalty, evening the score at 2-2 and eliminating the Galaxy from the playoff picture.
Giovani Dos Santos made his first appearance for the Galaxy in the 76th minute, subbing on for Emmanuel Boateng.
But the Dynamo sealed the Galaxy’s fate in the 79th minute with another goal from Manotas, this time off the run of play. A cross from midfielder Alberth Elis made its way straight across the 18-yard box to find a sliding Manotas. With just 10 minutes remaining, and in need of two goals to find a playoff spot, the Galaxy felt a sense of urgency.
Despite their efforts and an extra nine minutes of stoppage time, the Galaxy’s season ended in disappointing fashion. With the loss, Real Salt Lake claimed the last spot in the Western Conference playoff race.