FRISCO — FC Dallas is currently on a five-game unbeaten streak which consists of three wins and two draws and will look to keep that momentum going against Los Angeles FC on Saturday night. Dallas (6-1-5, 23 points) is set for its second matchup with LAFC (6-3-3, 21 points) this season. In the two sides’ first match, both teams split the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
Opposing Strengths
LAFC’s strength lies in the front of its formation, but it will be without its leading goal scorer in Carlos Vela. Vela is away on international duty for the Mexico National Team in preparation for the World Cup. Los Angeles will look for its second-leading goal scorer, Diego Rossi, to step up against a Dallas side which has a goal-differential of seven. That goal differential is tied for second-best in the Western Conference, so LA will have a tall task on Saturday.
Rossi can do it all for LAFC. He currently sits second on the team in goals scored with five, and he also leads the team with six assists.
Key Match-Ups
Maxi Urruti vs. Walker Zimmerman — Zimmerman returns to Dallas for the first time since departing the club at the end of last season. Fresh off a superb performance for the U.S. Men’s National Team against Bolivia, where he scored in a 3-0 win, Zimmerman adds experience and knowledge to the LA back line. He along with the rest of the defense will have to keep an eye on FC Dallas’ leading goal scorer in Urruti.
Reto Ziegler vs. Diego Rossi — Rossi enters the game as the leading goal scorer outside of Carlos Vela, who is on international duty for the World Cup. Rossi scored LA’s only goal in its draw against D.C. United last Saturday. He’s going to be the main man up top while Vela is out, and if there’s going to be anyone to carry the goal-scoring burden, it’s going to be Rossi.
Projected XI
Los Angeles FC (4-3-3): Tyler Miller, Jordan Harvey, Tristan Blackmon, Walker Zimmerman, Steven Beitashour, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Eduard Atuesta, Benny Feilhaber, Diego Rossi, Latif Blessing, Aaron Kovar
Keys to Three Points
Dallas hasn’t lost in five matches and have built up momentum heading into this weekend. Keeping that momentum will be key against a quality side in Los Angeles. Both teams are in the thick of the race to the top of the conference, and Dallas has been on the right track as of late. The only question mark that looms over the team is Dallas’ performance late in games. Dallas has conceded within the last 20 minutes of the match twice in three games, and it has almost cost the team a victory. Outside of late-game situations, Dallas is on the right track and it helps to return to Frisco to play in front of the home crowd.
