Late loss to Dynamo prevents Galaxy from topping West

Daniel Steres' goal in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time led the Houston Dynamo to a stunning 2-1 win over visiting Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night.

Gabriel Pec equalized for the Galaxy from the penalty spot in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time before Steres scored the winner.

The Decision Day win secured the Dynamo (15-10-9, 54 points) fifth place in the Western Conference playoffs. Houston won for just the second time in four games.

The Galaxy (19-8-7, 64 points) had their three-game winning streak come to an end. LAFC's loss and win moved the Galaxy into second place in the Western Conference. Both teams had identical win-loss records, but LAFC had a goal difference of plus-20 compared to the Galaxy's plus-19.

Steres headed in a cross from Griffin Dorsey in the 101st minute, giving Houston the three points.

Los Angeles briefly thought it had secured first place in the Western Conference when Pec converted from the penalty spot after Houston's Artur Riqui beat Puig inside the 18-yard area.

After a 0-1 deficit, the Galaxy went one better in the second half.

The Galaxy thought they had equalized in the 49th minute, but Joseph Paintsil's goal was canceled out by a foul on Maya Yoshida.

Los Angeles had a great chance in the 64th minute during a scramble in front of the Dynamo goal, but Dejan Joveljic fired his shot over the crossbar.

At halftime, Houston had a slight advantage in possession, had four shots on goal and led 1-0.

Ezequiel Ponce opened the scoring in the 44th minute, scoring the rebound from a Hector Herrera free kick for his fifth goal of the season.

The two teams exchanged chances at the start of the first half.

Houston had a golden chance in the 15th minute when Amine Bassi sent a cross to Coco Carrasquilla, whose shot beat goalkeeper John McCarthy, but Yoshida was there to head the ball away from the goal line.

In the 18th minute, Paintsil had a shot from the top of the penalty area, but it was deflected off goal by goalkeeper Steve Clark, leaving the game goalless.

The Galaxy won the teams' only other meeting this season 2-1 on May 25 in Carson, California.

–Field level media