LA Galaxy 2, Houston Dynamo 1 | 2019 MLS Match Recap

The LA Galaxy took out one of the last two undefeated teams in MLS Week 8 action, defeating the Houston Dynamo 2-1 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Diego Polenta scored his first MLS goal with two minutes remaining to win it late for the home side. The Galaxy (6W-1L-0D, 18pts) have now won six of their first seven matches under new head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto, in the process snapping Houston's unbeaten, club-record start in league play.

The Galaxy took the lead on a penalty kick after AJ DeLaGarza tackled Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Houston's box. The Swede converted the penalty, just beating goalkeeper Joe Willis to make it 1-0 for the Galaxy. Ibrahimovic has seven goals in five appearances this season, having scored in every game he's appeared in so far in 2019.

Shortly after the halftime break, the tables were turned as Alberth Elis drew a penalty on a foul from Jorgen Skjelvik, and the Honduran international tied up the match himself on the ensuing spot kick. 

The Dynamo's defense held strong in the run of play and they had a few good looks of their own, but they were undone once again on a set piece, as Polenta headed in a Jonathan dos Santos corner kick to grab the dramatic winner for the Galaxy.

Goals

• 31' – LA – Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PK) | WATCH
• 53' – HOU – Alberth Elis (PK) | WATCH
• 88' – LA – Diego Polenta | WATCH

Three Things 

THE BIG PICTURE: The Galaxy kept up their strong start to 2019, continuing to show personality and grit under their new manager and coming up with another big play to pull out a win. The Dynamo will be disappointed by the late concession, which capped off a rough night for ex-Galaxy man AJ DeLaGarza, but their defense remained organized throughout the night.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH
: No question about this one. It was the winning goal:

MAN OF THE MATCH: Polenta and Ibrahimovic have cases, to be sure, and teenager Julian Araujo was strong at right back, but Dos Santos kept the Galaxy level-headed throughout the evening, putting in a good two-way shift in midfield and setting up the winning goal when it looked like the teams were destined for a draw.

Next Up

• LA: Wednesday, April 24 at Minnesota United (8 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; DAZN in Canada)
• HOU: Saturday, April 27 vs. Columbus Crew SC (8:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; DAZN in Canada)