Greg Vanney believes a strong mentality is key to the LA Galaxy's recent success and hopes their momentum carries them to a win over the Houston Dynamo in MLS.

The Galaxy earned a shock 2-0 win over the Seattle Sounders on the road last time out, moving them up into the playoff places in the Western Conference in ninth.

They have now lost just one of their last five games (W3 D1), and Vanney is taking huge confidence from the Galaxy's win over Seattle, as he aims to go into the World Cup break on a high.

"I think we have the confidence in this locker room that, no matter who we're playing or where we're playing, that we're going to go out there and fight for three points," Vanney said.

"I think that our mentality is a starting point for us. The intensity, making sure that we're in every single game, and we're competing with each other and for each other, and just doing all the little details, is the most important."

As for Houston, they are sixth in the West and two points better off than the Galaxy after losing just two of their last seven (W5) games.

However, they come into this match on the back of a disappointing U.S. Open Cup quarter-final defeat, going out on penalties to St. Louis City SC after a 2-2 draw across 120 minutes.

Head coach Ben Olsen was particularly impressed with his side's effort in that match, as they had 20 shots (nine on target), despite their exit.

"I'm proud but disappointed for the players," he said. "I thought they gave everything.

"It would've been nice to move on, but those are the breaks. We'll patch them up and get ready for LA."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LA Galaxy – Gabriel Pec

Gabriel Pec was involved in both goals in LA Galaxy's win at Seattle on Saturday (one goal, one assist), taking him to five goals and five assists in 13 games this season.

He is the second Galaxy player in the last 10 seasons with five goals and five assists in his first 13 games of a season (Cristian Pavon in 2020).

Houston Dynamo – Guilherme

Guilherme's winning goal in the 96th minute on Saturday was his 12th goal contribution of the season (seven goals, five assists).

Guilherme is the second player in Dynamo history to record 12 or more goal contributions in his first 13 appearances of a season (Alberth Elis in 2018 and 2019).

MATCH PREDICTION: LA GALAXY WIN

LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo have met 14 times since the start of the 2019 season, with each team recording four wins (D6), so home advantage is expected to be key here.

However, the Galaxy have managed just one win in the last six meetings (L2 D3), though both matches last season ended in 1-1 draws.

The Galaxy kept their second clean sheet of the season last time out, a 2-0 victory at Seattle. They have not kept clean sheets in consecutive regular-season matches in almost two years, since a run of three straight shutouts in June 2024.

Houston's 1-0 victory over Vancouver was their fifth win in their last seven regular-season matches (L2). This is the first time the Dynamo have won five times in a span of seven league matches within a single season since March-May 2019.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LA Galaxy – 49.2%

Draw – 23.6%

Houston Dynamo – 27.2%