FRISCO - Even though FC Dallas and the LA Galaxy faced off less than three weeks ago, FC Dallas’ defense, which is tied for second in goals allowed, will be very different this time around.
On May 12, FC Dallas started a backline of Anton Nedyalkov, Reto Ziegler, Matt Hedges and Reggie Cannon with Jimmy Maurer in net. It was the ninth straight game of those five starting together.
They gave up two goals to the Galaxy that night, but ultimately held on to win 3-2 after allowing some late chances.
FC Dallas did a good job of keeping Zlatan Ibrahimovic in check and will have to do it again, but with a much different personnel group.
Fast forward to this week and Nedyalkov had surgery for a broken collar bone, Ziegler missed a game after a red card (but is back now), Hedges is suspended this week for yellow card accumulation and Jesse Gonzalez is coming off a nine-save shutout against Toronto FC, suplanting Maurer in goal for the first time this year.
Gonzalez will likely make his second consecutive start in goal. Maynor Figueroa will likely kick back to the inside with Ziegler. Ryan Hollingshead could get his first start of the year on the left. Homegrown center back Jordan Cano, who has been playing with USL-team OKC Energy FC, will likely be in the 18-man roster for the first time in his career.
The team is not concerned with the new look of the defense.
“Everybody knows the system and their roles,” midfielder Jacori Hayes said. “One guy goes down, it’s an opportunity for someone else to step up and complete the job. We have a bunch of guys on the roster that can fill those roles and do what needs to be done to help us win.”
LA's leading coming into the match three weeks ago, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, will be fresh for this match after missing the last game due to a red card. He will rejoin a Galaxy team that is riding-high, winning 1-0 in consecutive matches with Ola Kamara having taken over the club's role as top scorer. Either way, lot of pressure will be in the center of the back line, similar to the Toronto game from Friday.
Here is what Oscar Pareja said after that last game.
“I tried to give some protection to the back four,” he said. “We knew about the ability of Toronto’s players just getting in behind. So early, Giovinco, Vasquez just tried to get in there and we knew we had a couple of players in the middle who could field those balls. So, for us, it was first just trying to neutralize it, but at the same time exposing with a transition.”
