Houston Dynamo midfielder Matias Vera, right, turns the ball away from LAFC forward Mahala Opoku during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, middle, can’t block the shot as Houston Dynamo forward Sebastian Ferreira (9) scores a goal as LAFC forward Mahala Opoku looks on during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Dynamo forward Sebastian Ferreira, left, celebrates his goal in front of LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
LAFC forward Carlos Vela, left, gets the kick off before an attempted slide tackle by Houston Dynamo defender Adam Lundqvist during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark, front, pulls down a corner kick in front of LAFC defender Giorgio Chiellini, left, and midfielder Jose Cifuentes, middle, during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Dynamo forward Sebastian Ferreira, top, collides with LAFC midfielder Ilie Sanchez as Ferreira heads the ball during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
LAFC forward Cristian Arango (9) heads the ball into the goal to score past teammate Ryan Hollingshead (24) and Houston Dynamo forward Corey Baird (11) and midfielder Griffin Dorsey (25) during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
LAFC forward Cristian Arango, left, gestures next to midfielder Kellyn Acosta after Arango’s goal against the Houston Dynamo during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Dynamo midfielder Griffin Dorsey, left, and LAFC forward Mahala Opoku both look at the ball after they missed a header during the first half on Wednesday night in Houston. LAFC dropped its third consecutive match, 2-1. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark, top right, makes a save as he collides with LAFC defender Jesus Murillo, top left, as LAFC’s Gareth Bale looks on during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Dynamo midfielder Griffin Dorsey, right, kicks the ball past LAFC defenders Sebastien Ibeagha, left, and Diego Palacios, middle, for a goal during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
LAFC defender Jesus Murillo heads the ball over Houston Dynamo midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
The Houston Dynamo’s Griffin Dorsey, left, and Sebastian Ferreira celebrate a goal by Dorsey during the second half of their match against LAFC on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Steve Clark, left, looks on as defender Ethan Bartlow (13) heads away a shot on goal over LAFC midfielders Gareth Bale (11) and defender Jesus Murillo, right, during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Michael Nelson, front, trips as LAFC defender Sebastien Ibeagha attempts to steal the ball during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
LAFC defender Jesus Murillo, left, pushes off Houston Dynamo midfielder Fafa Picault as they battle for control of the ball during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Houston Dynamo midfielder Fafa Picault, left, pleads with referee Matthew Conger, middle, as he issues a red card to Darwin Ceren, right, after he previously received a yellow card during the second half on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
HOUSTON — Those who were uncertain as to whether there was any reason to be genuinely concerned about the Los Angeles Football Club’s recent struggles can stop wondering.
The team that has set the pace in MLS for most of the season and spent recent months making several high-profile roster additions is in a legitimate slump.
The host Houston Dynamo, the last-place team in the Western Conference, provided the latest evidence on Wednesday night, stunning first-place LAFC, 2-1.
Sebastian Ferreira and Griffin Dorsey scored for Houston (8-15-5, 29 points). It was the Dynamo’s first win in more than a month, with their last win coming July 17. In between were five losses and one draw.
LAFC (18-7-3, 57 points) fell into a tie with the Philadelphia Union, who won their game Wednesday, for the most points in the league, but LAFC has lost three straight matches (all on the road). None of LAFC’s high-priced superstars – Carlos Vela and Gareth Bale among them – have scored during the losing streak.
Cristian Arango scored for LAFC in the 19th minute on Wednesday, tying the score at 1-1. Ferreira had scored on a penalty kick for Houston in the 13th minute. Arango used his head to guide in a cross from Vela for his 14th goal of the season.
But it was the only time that LAFC’s high-powered offense beat veteran goalkeeper Steve Clark. The 36-year-old had six saves, tying his season-high. LAFC got off 19 shots and put eight on frame.
While Clark and the back line kept LAFC at bay, the Dynamo offense created the decisive goal in the 75th minute. After settling a ball from Adalberto Carrasquilla on the right wing, Dorsey dashed between two defenders and made his way into the box, then unleashed a left-footed shot that beat a sliding third defender and LAFC goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. It was Dorsey’s first MLS goal of the season.
LAFC’s latest acquisition, Denis Bouanga, made his MLS debut in the 72nd minute, coming on for Arango.
Houston defender Darwin Ceren was sent off with his second yellow card of the night in the 97th minute.
LAFC next hosts Real Salt Lake (11-8-9, 42 points) on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
