Bumpy road continues for LAFC in loss to Houston Dynamo

HOUSTON -- The slide in the standings continued for LAFC on Saturday night as they were shut out, 1-0, by Houston Dynamo FC at Shell Energy Stadium. Houston (1-4-2) earned their first victory of 2025.

Jack McGlynn's 58th-minute score, his first in a Houston uniform, was the lone score of the contest as he drilled one from outside the box that found the net behind the outstretched reach of Los Angeles goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Houston goalkeeper Blake Gillingham came up big for his squad as he made two saves, including a big-time stop in the 80th minute as he managed to deflect a potential game-tying header from Nathan Ordaz. It would have been the second consecutive game with a score for the 21-year-old, who lifted Los Angeles to victory in a 1-0 game over Inter Miami in leg one of the CONCACAF Quarterfinals.

Gillingham, a rookie goalkeeper, has now notched two shutouts in his three career MLS appearances. He outdueled Lloris, who also made two saves in the game.

LAFC has now lost four of their last five in MLS play and now sits in eighth place in the Western Conference at 3-0-4. The squad only has one MLS victory since March 1 and a goal differential of -2.

The slow start to the season for Denis Bouanga continued on Saturday as he extended his scoreless streak to six consecutive games to open the season. He took two shots in the loss.

After scoring 20 goals in each of the previous two seasons, the 30-year-old forward has some catching up to do if he wants to help Los Angeles turn things around and develop some more consistency down the stretch. He has shown signs of life in CONCACAF play, with three goals so far.

Bouanga and LAFC will return to CONCACAF action next Wednesday as they play Inter Miami in the second leg of the quarterfinals. Currently leading the aggregate score 1-0, they'll look to move past Leo Messi and the rest of the Miami squad in a tough road game at Chase Stadium.

Inter Miami is currently second in the Eastern Conference standings and unbeaten in MLS play (4-1-0).

Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PT.