LAFC reaches second straight MLS Cup Final with 2-0 win over Houston Dynamo with defending champions set to face Columbus after The Crew’s dramatic 3-2 win over FC Cincinnati

Ryan Hollingshead scored as defending champion Los Angeles FC reached the MLS Cup final for the second time in a row with a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday evening.

Houston's Franco Escobar scored an own goal ten minutes from time to secure the Western Conference finals for Los Angeles.

Steve Cherundolo's team travels to Columbus next weekend to take on The Crew, who defeated FC Cincinnati 3-2 in a thriller earlier on Saturday.

LAFC is now one match away from becoming the first consecutive champions in the MLS since city rivals LA Galaxy achieved the feat in 2011 and 2012.

Maxime Crepeau made five saves to earn his third straight clean sheet for Los Angeles. It means Cherundolo's side have not conceded a goal since October, with Giorgio Chiellini and Diego Palacios leading a defense that frustrated the Dynamo.

LAFC defeated the Houston Dynamo 2-0 to win a second consecutive Western Conference title

Ryan Hollingshead scored late in the first half to give Los Angeles the lead on Saturday night

Goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau (R) made five saves in his third consecutive clean sheet for LAFC

Houston's nine-match winning streak ended as the franchise fell agonizingly short of a first MLS Cup final since 2012.

LAFC stood strong in its 52nd match of 2023 – an MLS record for matches played in a calendar year, thanks to the club's competition in several non-league tournaments.

The Black and Gold still edged to the brink of a second straight title despite the heavy workload and despite losing a number of key players from last season's championship team, including the high-scoring Chicho Arango and the retired Gareth Bale.

The crowd in Los Angeles gave a standing ovation to Carlo Vela as he came off the field in the second half of what could be his last game at BMO Stadium. The club's first player is out of contract this winter and is unsure whether he will return.

Columbus Crew fought back to defeat FC Cincinnati and win the MLS Eastern Conference title

Christian Ramirez scored a winner in the 115th minute as the side came back from two goals down

The match could also have been Chiellini's last home match. The Italian ace who joined LAFC from Juventus 18 months ago is believed to be considering retirement at the age of 39.

Earlier, Christian Ramirez scored a winner in the 115th minute as the Columbus Crew fought back from two goals down to beat favorite FC Cincinnati 3-2.

Columbus, which has won two titles in three previous trips to the finals, will host the finals next Saturday.

This was the Crew's ninth conference final – only LA Galaxy (13) has reached more – and the first time in MLS history that state rivals faced each other for a title.

The Crew's overtime victory sparked wild celebrations among the visiting players and fans in Cincinnati, leaving midfielder Darlington Nagbe in tears on the field.

Columbus midfielder Darlington Nagbe (right) was left in tears after the win