Another Loss in Dallas for the LA Galaxy
- Updated: October 2, 2016
After a devastating 4-2 loss last week against the Seattle Sounders, the LA Galaxy needed to regain its footing in the last few games of the regular season. Tonight, LA faced FC Dallas, the top club in the Western Conference. The night went well for Dallas who dominated the game and earned all three points.
#LAGalaxy XI: Rowe; Rogers, DLG, Van Damme, Cole; Gerrard, Larentowicz; Mendiola, Dos Santos, Lletget; Keane #DALvLA pic.twitter.com/EvSbXltjL1
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) October 1, 2016
In the second minute, Kellyn Acosta nearly put Dallas ahead with an early lead. Luckily, it glanced off the post and wide.
Two minutes later, Steven Gerrard played an excellent ball over the defense to Robbie Rogers who crossed the ball into the box. Rogers found Robbie Keane who quickly touched and shot the ball, but Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz easily saved it. Raul Mendiola picked up the rebound and sent a rocket into the side netting.
In the eighteenth minute, Steven Gerrard opened the opportunity for LA to score. On a breakaway, he clipped the ball to Giovanni dos Santos and set up a 3-on-2 threat. Gerrard overlapped Gio and received a timely pass. Seitz (GK) came out to meet the Englishman and Gerrard easily outmaneuvered him. Unfortunately, Gerrard missed an open net. His shot went just wide. A perfect opportunity, but Stevie completely flubbed it.
For the first twenty minutes or so, LA controlled the ball well. They soon started playing sloppily though. Jelle Van Damme put himself in numerous dangerous positions with poor passes.
When the Galaxy managed to reach the Dallas box, only one or two LA players could be seen. They left a major hole between the midfielders and the forwards. It prevented LA from setting up any effective or threatening attacks. The midfielders continually dropped back too much.
In the 40th minute, FC Dallas earned a corner. Mauro Diaz crossed the ball into the box and LA left Walker Zimmerman completely wide open. Both Jeff Larentowicz and Keane stood near him. Zimmerman headed the cross into the back of the net. Earlier in the game, he nearly scored off an identical set play.
The second half showed little difference or improvement for the LA Galaxy on offense. FC Dallas continued to dominate. Bruce Arena subbed in Emmanuel Boateng, Landon Donovan, and Alan Gordon for Steven Gerrard, Raul Mendiola, and A.J. DeLaGarza. They needed to leave Dallas with at least one point.
Defensively, they started to play much better. With DeLaGarza out, Arena left them with three defenders so Brian Rowe stepped off his line more. He brilliantly kept the LA Galaxy alive with numerous great saves.
Much to the dismay of fans, Van Damme received a yellow card for a tackle on Maximiliano Urruti. LA will definitely rue that foul next game because they will be without him due to yellow card accumulation.
In a crucial game, the LA Galaxy failed to earn a point. They will return to Texas to play the Houston Dynamo in two weeks on October 16.
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