CARSON, Calif. - FC Dallas returned to the site where they captured the 2016 Supporters’ Shield and kicked off the 2017 MLS Regular Season with a 2-1 win over the LA Galaxy.
Newcomer Roland Lamah created Dallas’ first chance of the afternoon in just the 6th minute, sending a cross in from the right side to Maxi Urruti at the top of the penalty area. The Argentine striker’s right-footed attempt, though, missed to the right of goal.
The Galaxy got a first look of their own in the 9th minute, as defender Jelle Van Damme sent a long, arcing ball to Jack McBean at the top of the FCD 18. McBean sent a touch to Alessandrini, but was called back for an offsides on the play.
Lamah again created another look for Dallas later in the half, sending a cross into the box for Kellyn Acosta. The Homegrown could connect cleanly with a header and the ball fell to the foot of Barrios, who put a quick attempt on goal that was cleared off the line by Van Damme in the 33rd minute.
Urruti would tally FC Dallas’ first goal of 2017 early in the second half, picking up a turnover from Jelle Van Damme in the Galaxy captain’s half. Urruti worked his way across the field a the top of the area and fired a low shot back across goal to beat a diving Brian Rowe.
LA would strike back in the 53rd minute from the penalty spot. Hernan Grana was chasing Galaxy defender Dave Romney into the 18 and was fouled for a tackle from behind. Giovanni dos Santos tucked his penalty attempt just under the crossbar on the left as Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz dove right to level the match, 1-1.
Seitz would rebound in the 61st minute, pushing a long-range blast from dos Santos over the bar to keep the score deadlocked.
Acosta would put Dallas ahead in the 69th minute on a give-and-go with Lamah down the left side. The Homegrown borough the ball down the wing, found Lamah just outside the top corner of the 18 and then made a run across the top of the area, where Lamah hit him in stride. Acosta delivered a low shot across his body into the bottom left corner to re-gain the lead for FCD.
The midfielder tried his hand with another give-and-go, this time with Tesho Akindele from outside the penalty are in the 81st minute, but his attempt missed the Galaxy goal to the left.
LA would have two chances to level in stoppage time, the first when Van Damme rose above the crowd in front in the 91st minute to connect a header on the end of a Dave Romney cross, but his shot bounced off the turf and wide right of goal. The second came from Lassiter in the 94th minute with a point-blank look at goal that was blocked in front of the Dallas net.
FCD will head to Sporting KC next weekend before their home opener on Saturday, March 18th at Toyota Stadium against the New England Revolution. Dallas will also host Liga MX-side Club Pachuca on Wednesday, March 15 in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Semifinal match-up.
Scoring Summary:
DAL - Maxi Urruti - 47’
LA - Giovanni dos Santos (PK) - 53’
FCD - Kellyn Acosta (Roland Lamah) - 69’
FC Dallas - Chris Seitz; Maynor Figueroa, Matt Hedges, Walker Zimmerman, Hernan Grana; Roland Lamah, Carlos Gruezo, Kellyn Acosta, Michael Barrios (Atiba Haris - 68’); Maxi Urruti (Tesho Akindele - 79’), Cristian Colman (Carlos Cermeno - 68’).
Substitutes Not Used: Jesse Gonzalez, Aaron Guillen, Jacori Hayes, Javier Morales.
LA Galaxy - Brian Rowe; Rafael Garcia (Emmanuel Boateng - 71’), Jelle Van Damme, Daniel Steres, Dave Romney; Joao Pedro, Jermaine Jones, Sebastian Lletget, Romain Alessandrini (Ariel Lassiter - 86’); Jack McBean (Jose Villarreal - 78’), Giovani dos Santos.
Substitutes Not Used: Clément Diop, Nathan Smith, Baggio Husidic, Jaime Villarreal. Misconduct
Summary:
LA - Jermaine Jones (caution) - 17’
LA - Joao Pedro (caution) - 41’
FCD - Maynor Figueroa (caution) - 83’
FCD - Matt Hedges (caution) - 85’
Referee: Kevin Stott
AR1 (bench): Mike Rottersman; AR2 (opposite): Craig Lowry; 4th: Alejandro Mariscal.
Weather: Clear, 69
°
Attendance: 23,554
