LAFC toppled Houston Dynamo 2-0 to reach their second consecutive MLS Cup final, as goals from Ryan Hollingshead and an own goal from Franco Escobar sealed the victory.
The goal for Hollingshead was his third of the playoffs, as he continues to deliver in his second season for the Black and Gold. The 32-year-old’s headed effort from a set piece moved LAFC one step closer to defending their 2022 title as they now are just 90 minutes away from adding another star above their crest.
Hollingshead explained that all teams strive to play attractive, entertaining football, but not at the expense of losing games – something that Steve Cherundolo’s side are clearly not about as they conceded 70% possession to the Dynamo but dominated xG 2.30 to 0.42.
“I think there’s a little bit of a draw in the regular season where you want your football to look good, and you want it to be a certain style,” Hollingshead said. “But there’s also in the playoffs a difference of, we got to win games. It’s just about winning and advancing. And I think we know what it takes to win these games.”
The experienced right-back acknowledged that LAFC were glad to let Houston enjoy a lot of possession, but their stellar defending from the likes of Giorgio Chiellini and Jesus Murillo left the Dynamo’s midfielders and attackers nowhere to go.
“We knew that’s what they wanted. They wanted the ball. They like to play this little tiki-taka in the middle of the field, these little movements, little one-twos, three of their guys just kind of pass the ball, but they’re going nowhere. And so we just said, do whatever you got, have the ball as long as you want,” Hollingshead added.
Columbus, the Black and Gold’s MLS Cup opponents, are similar to Houston in the sense that they like to dominate possession and play the game on their terms. Against Orlando City and FC Cincinnati, the Crew totaled 56% and 63% possession, respectively.
Given that aspect and the fact that LAFC will defend their title on the road, it’s shaping up to potentially play into the Black and Gold’s hands on December 9 at Lower.com Field.
Hollingshead concluded: “They created zero dangerous chances. And so a lot of these teams, it’s like, yeah, they’ve got possession, they may be moving the ball. But if they’re not creating dangerous chances, who cares?”
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