Dynamo-Galaxy preview

The LA Galaxy have found their groove since the return of star forward Robbie Keane from Euro 2016 and will look to improve their third-place standing in the Western Conference when they host the Houston Dynamo on Friday at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

The Galaxy have won both matches since Keane's return, including a 1-0 road victory at Seattle on July 9 in which the Irish star scored the game's lone goal.

Before he returned, LA endured a seven-match winless streak (0-3-4)

"I score goals and win games," Keane told reporters on Thursday. "If I keep performing every time that I come back, then I'm doing my job."

The Galaxy (7-3-8, 29 points) easily handled Houston in the first matchup of the year between the two sides, winning 4-1 at BBVA Compass Stadium as forward Giovani dos Santos scored a pair of goals and set up a third. That was their first ever victory on that pitch and the first win in Houston for the Galaxy since 2010, when the Dynamo played at Robertson Stadium.

Houston (4-8-6, 18 points) battled to a second straight shutout and a third in its last four games on July 9 in a scoreless draw at Orlando City SC. It was the fourth draw in six games since Wade Barrett took over as interim head coach for the Dynamo on June 7.

Houston is 1-1-4 since the departure of former coach Owen Doyle on May 28.

"Our season only really started after the Vancouver game (on May 28)," Barrett said. "Since then, my team has been one of the most disciplined groups on the road. The players are responding to what I am asking them to do and we have shown we have become difficult to play against. Everything is still there to play for but you can't look down the road."