LAFC - Houston Dynamo live online: scores, stats and updates | MLS Cup Playoffs
LAFC vs Houston Dynamo: Live blog
LAFC came forward against with Olivera, but he can't quite find the final ball.
Houston are under the cosh here and could do with making it to the break without conceding a second.
There will be a minimum of six minutes added time at the end of the first half.
It was a brilliant delivery from Carlos Vela and a powerful header from Giorgio Chiellini to turn the ball goalwards. Clark make a sharp save but he could only parry the ball into the path of a very grateful Ryan Hollingshead.
That's his third playoff goal of the season!
GOOOOAAAAAAAL! LAFC
The hosts have the lead through Ryan Hollingshead, who acted fastest to pounce on a loose ball in the box.
LAFC 1-0 Houston Dynamo.
Clever ball from Chiellini to work the ball out to Olivera on the right. He looks to make some space for a cross but it's deflected out of play.
LAFC win another corner.
Another chance for LAFC as Cristian Olivera latches onto a loose ball in the Houston box and strikes a fierce volley. Steve Clark is worried but Olivera's effort flies harmlessly over the crossbar.
Brilliant work from Carlos Vela on the right, skipping past challenges and dragging across Houston defenders. He is eventually crowded out by three opposition players but still wins his side a throw in.
LAFC win it back and there's a first real opening for Denis Bouanga. He blitzes past Amine Bassi on the wing and gets into a crossing position in the box.
He whips the ball in, left-footed, but Clark is out to claim easily.
Houston get a little lucky as Hollingshead misjudges the ball on the halfway line. A chance to break now perhaps?
For a second it looks like Denis Bouanga has space on the left, but the linesman's flag is up again. It was Carlos Vela, standing in an offside position earlier in the move.
Houston are living a little dangerously with the offsides now.
Houston win it back and come forward with Herrera. The ball is worked out to Nelson Quinones, who cuts inside from the left and lashes a shot at goal from 25 yards.
Giorgio Chiellini stands his ground in the penalty box and simply heads the ball away.
He hasn't found the breakthrough yet but Carlos Vela has looked very dangerous in the opening 33 minutes tonight. He's showing for the ball well but also offering a threat in behind, making life difficult for the Houston backline.
Clark certainly caught Vela without getting the ball, but it looks like the Houston stopper have been saved by the assistant's flag. Had Vela have been offside, Clark could easily have been looking at a red card there.
Long ball from Ilie Sanchez puts Carlos Vela through on goal, but he is clattered into by Steve Clark.
The Houston goalkeeper brings him down, but the offside flag is up. It will be checked though!
Ball is worked to Denis Bouanga on the left of the box. He squares up Sviatchenko but the Ukrainian defender does brilliantly to shuffle him away from danger.
After a brief pause in play so Steve Clark can receive a bit of medical treatment, we're back underway.
The corner ball is whipped in towards Murillo who connects well, but he can't generate any power on the effort. Clark saves comfortably.
An almost immediately LAFC are back on the attack with Bouanga, who ins a corner kick for his team.
Brilliant turn from Artur on the halfway line to shimmy away from two LAFC players. He plays forward to find Carrasquilla, who shoots at goal from distance.
It's easily saved by Crepau but it was a nice spell of play from Houston.
The noise from LAFC's 3252 supporter group has been non-stop in the opening 20 minutes. Brilliant atmosphere at BMO Stadium for this Western Conference final!
Strong tackle from Hector Herrera near the LAFC corner flag as he looks to win the ball back for his team. LAFC do well to keep possession and win a goal kick.
Ryan Hollingshead gives away a foul on the halfway line, a little too eager is his pressure on Quinones. The LAFC defender is furious with the call but he did clip the Houston winger.
Good play from Ilie Sanchez to pinch the ball in the middle and win a free kick for his side. The LAFC midfielder will need to be disciplined against Houston's fluid, rotating midfield.
Hector Herrera drops deep to orchestrate the play for Houston. He tries to feed to the ball through to Baird but LAFC intercept and the ball bounces loose on the edge of the box.
Carrasquilla pounces on it and lashes a shot at goal but Chiellini is there to block the effort.
More good play from LAFC to work the ball out to Olivera on the right. He is operating as the out-ball in the early stages, keeping his width to allow Bouanga to drift inside on the opposite flank.
Vela delivers from the left but Carrasquilla is there to head the ball away.
Houston get the first ball cleared but LAFC regain possession and deliver once again. It's headed out for another LAFC corner.
Another chance for Carlos Vela!
Brilliant interplay between Denis Bouanga and Vela to play the Mexican into space in the box. He lets fly with a fierce left-footed shot but Clark tipped the ball out for a corner.
Houston are starting to make there mark on the game now, enjoying a solid spell of possession. Artur is playing as the deepest in midfield, allowing Hector Herrera to push further forward and find pockets of space.
Big chance for Houston has Herrera picks out Baird at the back post. The Houston striker looks to volley the ball past Crepau but the LAFC stopper is equal to it.
LAFC are looking much more proactive than they did in the semi-final against Seattle, where they seemed pretty happy to sit back and hit them on the counter-attack.
Tonight Tillman and Acosta and hassling the Houston midfield and forcing mistakes.
Carlos Vela has the ball in the back of the net but he was in an offside position!
The Mexican had just strayed offside, but LAFC have done really well with their high press in the opening stages. It's causing Houston problems.
LAFC hit the crossbar!
First opportunity for the hosts as Tillman finds Carlos Vela in the Houston box but the Mexican can't convert. He lifts the ball over Clark but it clips the bar and goes over.
Solid defending from Ryan Hollingshead in the opening stages to block Nelson Quinones. That could be a key battle as this Game progresses.
And we're off!
The visibility is far from perfect, but we're underway at BMO Stadium.
It looks like there might be a delay of a few minutes here while the officials wait for the smoke to clear. The players are knocking a ball around on the field, trying to keep focused.
Both sets of players are out on the field now. Or at least, I assume they are.
The field is currently shrouded in a thick cloud of smoke, the result of the pyrotechnics in the crowd ahead of kick-off. We're expecting plenty of fireworks tonight.
LAFC nearly ready to go
The MLS Cup champions are looking to become just the fourth team in MLS History to retain the title. They have not always been the most consistent this season, but at their best they remain the most devastating attacking force in the league.
Can they produce against a well-drilled Houston side? We're about to find out...
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Here's what he had to say...
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Houston put through their paces ahead of kick-off
The visitors are looking sharp in the warm up at BMO Stadium and will have to be at their very best to get past an experienced LAFC side. Ben Olsen's side have already lifted the US Open Cup and have showed that they know how to get the job done in big games.
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The stakes are high and there is very little to choose between LAFC and Houston Dynamo going into the Western Conference final. These Games are often decided by a moment of genius and both teams have plenty of players capable of delivering on the biggest stage.
Here's the ones to watch this evening...
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We're around 20 minutes from kick-off in the Western Conference final and the atmosphere is building at BMO Stadium.
With Denis Bouanga in red-hot form LAFC have the be the pre-Game favourites, but this will not be easy. Houston Dynamo have shown real growth this season and Hector Herrera has proved to be one of the most effective players in the league.
This game could come down to a battle of influences: Bouanga vs Herrera.
Preparations underway at BMO Stadium
The MLS Cup holders are out on the field at BMO Stadium as they prepare for the Western Conference final. Carlos Vela is looking to lift MLS Cup for the second successive season, but the Black and Golden will have to see their way past an in-form Houston Dynamo side first.
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Steve Cherundolo expecting an unlikely hero for LAFC
Steve Cherundolo admitted this week that he has no idea who the hero will be in his side's Western Conference clash against Houston Dynamo. The LAFC head coach said that he wanted to ensure that every one of his players are ready to make an impact if required.
“What we learned from last year is that you don’t know who is going to impact the match, and when. It’s very important that everyone is engaged,” he explained.
“I don’t know who’s going to be the hero. It’s so important that we’re all engaged and we all know our roles so that we’re ready when we are called upon.”
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And here's the Houston Dynamo starting XI...
Houston boss Ben Olsen also names an unchanged side. Corey Baird leads the line for the Dynamo with the ball-playing trio of Artur, Herrera and Carrasquilla in midfield.
LAFC lineup announced
Here's how the hosts start off this evening. No surprises from Steve Cherundolo, who names an unchanged side.
Houston arrive for Western Conference final
And here are tonight's visitors, Ben Olsen's Houston Dynamo. The team are far ahead of where many expected for Olsen's first year in charge and they have already won the US Open Cup.
Can they lift the Western Conference tonight?
LAFC in the house
The Black and Gold arrive at BMO Stadium, with family members in tow for the occasion.
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Hello and welcome to AS USA, where we will be bringing you full live coverage from the Western Conference final between LAFC and Houston Dynamo.
I'm Will Gittins and I'll be taking you through all of tonight's action...
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