LA Galaxy

Starting XI presented by Modelo: LA Galaxy vs. Houston Dynamo FC | September 15, 2021

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Lineup Notes:

  • Making his second start of the season is Jonathan Klinsmann. In his first start of the 2021 campaign, Klinsmann tallied six saves in a 1-0 road win over Minnesota United FC on Aug. 14, earning him a spot on the MLS Team of the Week for Week 19.
  • Playing as a right back is Julian Araujo, who made his first career MLS start at home against Houston Dynamo FC on April 19, 2019. Araujo ranks second in the league in assists (6) amongst all defenders and ranks tied for eighth in the league in tackles won.
  • Playing in the heart of defense is Séga Coulibaly, who has started seven consecutive matches dating back to Aug. 4.
  • Next to Coulibaly is Daniel Steres, who tallied an assist against the Colorado Rapids on Sept. 11, earning a spot on the MLS Team of the Week.
  • Playing at left back is Niko Hämäläinen, who has made four appearances (4 starts) for the Galaxy since joining the club on loan from Queens Park Rangers.
  • Captaining the Galaxy is Jonathan dos Santos, who will make his 95th appearance (84 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy.
  • Playing next to Dos Santos is Rayan Raveloson, who ranks second on the team with five goals in 12 games played (12 starts).
  • Playing as part of the three-man midfield is Victor Vázquez, who leads the Galaxy with 38 chances created during the 2021 campaign.
  • Starting at right wing is Efrain Álvarez, who has notched two goals and two assists in 16 games played (10 starts) for LA this year.
  • Opposite Álvarez is Samuel Grandsir, who tallied a goal in the 1-1 draw against Colorado. Grandsir is the only Galaxy player to appear in every match (23) this season.
  • Chicharito makes his second consecutive appearance since missing 12 games due to injury. Chicharito leads the Galaxy with 10 goals scored in 11 games played (11 starts).

Game Notes:

  • The LA Galaxy are 11-8-4 (37 pts) this season, sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference standings.
  • Wednesday’s match marks the 33rd MLS regular-season meeting between LA and the Houston Dynamo, with the Galaxy trailing the series 11-12-9.
  • In 14 all-time regular-season meetings against Houston at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Galaxy have posted a 6-4-4 record.
  • In the last six meetings between LA and Houston at Dignity Health Sports Park dating back to March 21, 2015, the Galaxy hold a 3-1-2 record.
  • Dating back to a 4-1 win over the Portland Timbers on July 30, the LA Galaxy hold a 3-2-3 record.
  • In 11 games played at home during the 2021 campaign, the Galaxy hold a 7-4-1 record.
  • LA’s seven wins at home ranks for fourth in the league.
  • The Galaxy rank tied for fifth in the league in goals scored (36) this season.
  • Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney has a 1-4-1 record in six MLS regular-season games managed against Houston during his time as a manager in MLS (2014-Present).
  • Dating back to the beginning of the 2015 MLS regular season, Vanney ranks first amongst all MLS head coaches in wins (96). Sporting KC’s Peter Vermes ranks second (91), while Philadelphia’s Jim Curtain ranks third (85). Orlando’s Oscar Pareja (83) ranks fourth, while Seattle’s Brian Schmetzer rounds out the top five (80).
  • With two more wins, Greg Vanney (98-76-52, .549) will become the 11th coach in MLS history to win 100 career MLS regular-season games.
  • Seventeen different players have made their Galaxy debut this season under Head Coach Greg Vanney.
  • Notably, Greg Vanney and Houston head coach Tab Ramos both appeared as second-half substitutes in the USMNT’s 1-1 draw against Guatemala in Concacaf World Cup Qualifying in Mazatenago, Guatemala on July 15, 2000.
  • Sebastian Lletget is the club’s active leader with 147 regular-season games played (124 starts), adding 21 goals and 26 assists for the Galaxy.
  • Dejan Joveljić opened his Galaxy goal-scoring account by registering a brace in his first career start against LAFC on Aug. 28.
  • After tallying the game-tying goal against LAFC on Aug. 28, Kévin Cabral has now tallied a goal in three of his last five games played.
  • Rayan Raveloson’s ranks tied for fourth in the league in headed goals (3) this year.
  • Amongst all MLS goalkeepers, Jonathan Bond ranks third in wins (10) and ranks second in saves (89) during the 2021 campaign.
  • Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez ranks tied for seventh in MLS in goals scored (10).
  • Chicharito ranks second in MLS in goals per 90 minutes played (0.97) with a minimum of 500 minutes played, behind only D.C. United’s Ola Kamara (1.19).
  • In five games played at home during the 2021 campaign, Chicharito has tallied five goals
  • Sacha Kljestan became the 49th player in league history to appear in 300 MLS regular-season games with his appearance against Colorado on Sept. 11.
  • Samuel Grandsir ranks tied for third in the league this season in shots that have hit the woodwork (4).
  • Jonathan Klinsmann has made five career regular-season appearances for LA, posting two shutouts and holding 2-3-0 record.
  • Daniel Steres is the Galaxy’s second-longest tenured player with 135 career regular-season appearances (124 starts).
  • Ethan Zubak has tallied three goals and one assist in 35 regular-season appearances (17 starts) for the Galaxy.

Storylines:

  • Can the Galaxy earn their first win at home since Aug. 4?
  • How will Jonathan Klinsmann fair in his first start since making six saves in a 1-0 win over Minnesota United FC on Aug. 14.
  • Can Chicharito get on the scoresheet following his return from injury?
  • LA Galaxy defenders Danilo Acosta (Honduras), Oniel Fisher (Jamaica) and Niko Hämäläinen (Finland) and midfielders Carlos Harvey (Panama), Sebastian Lletget (United States), Jonathan dos Santos (Mexico) and Rayan Raveloson (Madagascar) return back to the club after participating in FIFA World Cup Qualifying for their respective countries.

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