The LA Galaxy showed up at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas completely unprepared for the challenge that faced them. But FC Dallas would be sure to tell them, even if a late game red card would let the Galaxy back into the match
The final score may have said the Galaxy lost by only one goal, but the 3-2 scoreline – a familiar losing score for the club – didn’t give Dallas credit for their early capitalization on Galaxy mistakes.
For the third straight game, the Galaxy allowed three goals, for the third straight game the Galaxy lost by a score of 3-2, and all that losing has now stretched their streak to four consecutive games while losing five of their last six.
The Galaxy (3-6-1) started the match without an injured Giovani dos Santos and would finish the game without another injured dos Santos brother as Jonathan left the game early in the second half after picking up an injury during a sliding challenge earlier in the match.
Dallas (4-1-4) scored both of its first-half goals on poor Galaxy giveaways and closed out their scoring with a simple cross to the back post.
The first turnover from the Galaxy came in the 28-minute when Galaxy midfielder Chris Pontius’ short five-yard pass was given away to Dallas. Mauro Diaz combined quickly with Maxi Urruti who skirted the Galaxy’s Perry Kitchen while running parallel with the goal line. Urruti’s right-footed shot beat Galaxy goalkeeper David Bingham to his left to give Dallas the lead.
In the second turnover, Galaxy defender Michael Ciani was part of a complete defensive breakdown that saw Diaz put a perfect pass to Roland Lamah. Galaxy defenders Daniel Steres – who was playing at right-back for the first time this season – and Jorgen Skjelvik (the league’s highest-paid defender) both failed to stay with Lamah who kept himself onside brilliantly.
Instead, Steres and Skjelvik raised their hands fruitlessly as Lamah buried his shot.
But Lamah was not finished. He’d just have to wait for the Galaxy to get their first goal of the game as Ola Kamara – scorer of three goals in last three games – headed in a corner kick from Romain Alessandrini in the 47-minute.
Kamara, providing a brief respite from the reminder that the Galaxy were already thoroughly beaten on the night.
Lamah would then go on to bury another goal off a header in the 52-minute. This one after Diaz dribbled around the Galaxy defense and toyingly played a back post cross that found Lamah for the header over Steres’ poor defending.
The Galaxy would find a bit of late-game hope when Dallas defender Reto Ziegler picked up his second yellow card to earn a red card in the 73-minute. This allowed an 83-minute goal from Emmanuel Boateng after a great drive to the touchline by Ashley Cole and a good centering pass.
And down a single goal despite being dominated early, even Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had several good passes on the night, had a shot to tie the game.
Cole did well to draw a free kick just outside the box in the 89-minute and Ibrahimovic launched a laser that pinged off the right goal post but didn’t bounce in.
The final failure on the night came when, deep into the five minutes of stoppage time, defender Michael Ciani found himself wide open after a short corner and a perfect cross. The large center-back was unmarked and easily rose above everyone around him to get his head on the ball just 7 yards from goal.
But the header would sail well over the bar and not challenge Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Mauer.
Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid seems to be running out of excuses. He started a lineup that saw Sebastian Lletget sit on the bench, perhaps ready to come on in a second half that was sure to be hotter than the first. That left Pontius in a wide position in the midfield and attempted to push Alessandrini into the center.
But it was starting Steres at right back over Dave Romney, who had started the last two games at right back, that was the more interesting choice. With the center-back playing out of position, he rarely had the chance to shine. Instead, he holds at least some responsibility for Dallas’ last two goals.
The Galaxy will drop in the standings again, and Schmid will have to answer for his player and tactical decisions. And it’s important to note that the Galaxy only got into the game after Dallas went down a man.
In hot, sweltering, conditions the Galaxy were no match for a less talented Dallas team. And when new lineups, gameplans, and tactical decisions can’t get a talented group of individuals to play together, there is something very wrong with the picture!
The Galaxy will regroup with training at StubHub Center throughout the week before making the nearly six-hour flight to Montreal when they play on the Impact on Monday, May 21 (12 PM PT; SpectrumSN, SpectrumDeportes).