MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas Holds on to Defeat the LA Galaxy, 3-2

Published on May 13, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, Texas - (Saturday, May 12) - FC Dallas (4-1-4) got two goals from Roland Lamah and three assists from Mauro Diaz to outscore LA Galaxy, 3-2, in front of 18,355 fans today at Toyota Stadium.

FC Dallas earned a free kick from the right side, 25-yards from goal, in the second minute of the match. Homegrown defender Reggie Cannon won the ball back for FC Dallas in his own half and started a counter attack that led to the foul on FC Dallas forward Maxi Urruti. Mauro Diaz, starting his first match since April 7, opted to take the free kick. FCD's No. 10 lobbed a pass into the six-yard box but the ball was cleared away by an LA Galaxy defender.

LA's Romain Alessandrini found some space on the right side of the field and ran at FC Dallas defender Reto Ziegler in the 25th minute. Alessandrini cut inside and fired a left-footed shot that looked destined for the far post but FC Dallas goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer was alert and made a diving save to his right side to keep the game scoreless.

FC Dallas forward Maxi Urruti broke the deadlock in the 28th minute, when Santiago Mosquera slipped a pass into the middle to Diaz. Diaz stepped around a defender and knocked a short pass to Urruti, who turned, ran to the right and fired a bouncing shot that snuck just inside the near post to put FCD in front, 1-0.

Roland Lamah gave the home side a 2-0 lead in the 44th minute. Once again it was the Mosquera-to-Diaz combo that set up the goal. Diaz made the cutting pass, splitting two defenders to get the ball to Lamah. One-on-one with LA Galaxy's David Bingham, Lamah looked left before curling a shot around the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.

LA earned a corner kick just after halftime and Alessandrini served a line-drive to the top of the six-yard box. LA's Ola Kamara beat his man to the pass and hammered a headed shot past Maurer to make it a 2-1 game.

FC Dallas regained a two-goal advantage in the 52nd minute when Diaz walked through the Galaxy's backline before chipping a perfect cross to Lamah, who was left open at the back post. Lamah headed the ball back into Bingham but, coming post-to-post, the goalkeeper was unable to keep it out of the net and the ball rattled into the side netting to make it, 3-1.

Diaz's third assist of the match tied a club record for assists in a game, last equaled by Michael Barrios in a 6-2 win against Real Salt Lake on June 3, 2017.

FC Dallas' Reto Ziegler was shown his second caution of the match in the 73rd minute, leaving FC Dallas a man down for the final 17 minutes.

LA took advantage in the 83rd minute when Ashley Cole came up the left flank, skipped past a slide-tackle attempt by Cannon and centered a pass for Emmanuel Boateng. The second-half substitute took his chance well, knocking a first-touch shot by Maurer to make it, 3-2.

LA Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovi? had a chance to pull level with FC Dallas in the 89th minute. Standing over a free kick just outside the box, Ibrahimovi? walked up and hammered a shot off the outside of the post. The ball rebounded 30 yards from goal and went out of bounds for an FC Dallas throw-in.

Lineup:

FC Dallas - Jimmy Maurer, Anton Nedyalkov, Reto Ziegler, Matt Hedges, Reggie Cannon, Roland Lamah, Carlos Gruezo, Kellyn Acosta (Jacori Hayes 63), Mauro Diaz (Maynor Figueroa 77), Maxi Urruti, Santiago Mosquera (Michael Barrios 70).

Substitutes not used: Jesse Gonzalez, Ryan Hollingshead, Victor Ulloa, Cristian Colman.

LA Galaxy - David Bingham, Daniel Steres, Ashley Cole, Michael Ciani, Jorgen Skjelvik, Romain Alessandrini, Jonathan dos Santos (Servando Carrasco 56), Ola Kamara, Chris Pontius (Emmanuel Boateng 77), Perry Kitchen (Sebastian Lletget 46), Zlatan Ibrahimovi?.

Substitutes not used: Justin vom Steeg, Dave Romney, Baggio Husidic, Emrah Klimenta.

Scoring Summary:

DAL - Maxi Urruti (Mauro Diaz) 28

DAL - Roland Lamah (Mauro Diaz) 44

LA - Ola Kamara (Romain Alessandrini) 47

DAL - Roland Lamah (Mauro Diaz) 52

LA - Emmanuel Boateng (Ashley Cole) 83

Misconduct Summary:

LA - Ashley Cole (caution) 45+1

DAL - Reto Ziegler (caution) 58

DAL - Reto Ziegler (caution) 73

DAL - Reto Ziegler (ejection) 73

LA - Michael Ciani (caution) 86

DAL - Maxi Urruti (caution) 87

DAL - Michel Barrios (caution) 88

Weather: Sunny, 87 degrees

Attendance: 18,355

Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero

Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Jose Da Silva

4th Official: Armando Villarreal

VAR: Alex Chilowicz

FC Dallas Head Coach Oscar Pareja

General thoughts on the match...

We are building. We are grinding and trying to put things together. At this point in the season when you are trying to get to the top of the table, this result is very positive. LA is a very good side with the stars that they have and the pedigree of their players but our team found a way to manage the game. It became very difficult for us when we went a man down. They have a lot of power going forward so it was hard for our backs to control with the balls coming in at the end. We have to accept that our initiative today was to be the protagonists of the game - to manage the ball and fight for possession and create trouble for them by taking the game higher. That did cost us a lot when we went one-man down. They had a lot of size. It was very difficult to manage but we ended up winning a tremendous game.

On LA being dangerous down the left side in the second half...

We knew the challenges there with Romain Alessandrini coming down and cutting inside and the players in the box they had with size and experience... Zlatan [Ibrahimovic] and [Ola] Kamara and when they sent [Michael] Ciani as well. You say you have to be good in the back to control it. I say no, you need to be good on the side and control that cross and keep it from coming but it was very difficult. They found a way to get those crosses in. It was a big challenege.

On Mauro Diaz starting his first game since April 7...

Mauro has done a tremendous job understanding the initiatives and the purpose of our lineups in the past few games. The respect and the professionalism that he has shown, being one of the best players in the league and one of the best on this team ever also... He has understanding. He has been part of the group, supporting his teammates. The tactical decisions that we made before, everyone is accepting it very well. Today, he came, did his job, helped his teammates... It was the Mauro that we know in a game that we needed.

FC Dallas midfielder Roland Lamah

On scoring two goals...

I feel good for the team. It was important to take the three points at home. We have to keep it going in our next match.

On the play of Mauro Diaz...

Mauro is a good player. He is a great creator. When he gets the ball, I know I need to make a good run and he finds me. I'm happy.

FC Dallas forward Maxi Urruti

The importance of today's win...

We needed to get the three points at home to make up for the one point we got in LAFC. I'm happy with my teammates and with the goal.

Thoughts on today's crowd...

It was beautiful, to see the south end full after being under construction for a long time. We were able to thank them with this win. I'm grateful they came and filled the stadium knowing the heat wasn't ideal, but we got a great three points.

FC Dallas midfielder Kellyn Acosta

Thoughts on today's match...

I was definitely excited to get the nod. It was a difficult game. LA is a good team, but I thought the guys battled for 90-plus minutes. It works out with the result. Obviously, we could touch up on a few things. We made some little lapses on concentration where they scored two goals, especially right after halftime. We are just going to review film and build up for Vancouver this upcoming weekend and go from there.

Thoughts on today's win...

It was great to get the win. We missed on some of the home games [to start the season] so getting this win under our belt... We're definitely excited, especially bouncing back from last week with LAFC. LA is a tough team. They have some quality guys. Zlatan, Alessandrini, Jona - it wasn't an easy game for us but I'm glad we prevailed. We deserved the win.

Thoughts on Mauro's three assists...

It's definitely huge. It shows the guys are in form. Mauro coming back, obviously he wants to start every game and he didn't get the opportunity to start like he wants to. He's been putting in the minutes and the hours on the training field and it definitely showed. I'm happy for Maxi [Urruti] and Roland [Lamah] to get on the score sheet. That's big for the forwards to find that confidence in front of the goal, so hopefully this is the beginning and the goals keep flowing on in. I'm happy with the performance.

FC Dallas midfielder Mauro Diaz

Thoughts about the crowd...

I'm very grateful for the fans that always support us and the people who went to Los Angeles last week too. I'm very happy to go out on the field and bring them and us joy.

Thoughts on being in the starting lineup...

I was very happy. Every player wants to be in the starting 11. Today, I got the chance to be in it. I was able to be in the picture and a part of the game. I am very happy with the three assists, but I'm happier with the three points.

LA Galaxy head coach Sigi Schmid

On today's game...

Disappointed. Disappointed because of the goals we gave up and even being down we had enough chances to equalize the game and tie the game up. We've got to defend better. We can't give up the goals we're giving up. We're not defending well enough. Defending is not just defenders, but the whole team. We're giving up soft goals and we can't be giving up soft goals.

Update on Jonathon dos Santos...

He's ok. Gruezo got him with a knee in the thigh. It's just a charlie-horse.

LA Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic

On today's game...

I think today were unlucky. We were losing 2-0. It was difficult. We had to chase the game again. We got to 2-1. Then they went up 3-1. We go 3-2 and have a couple chances, but I think we were unlucky today. We are working hard. Hopefully, this will turn around and get the wins that we want.

Check out the FC Dallas Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Major League Soccer Stories from May 13, 2018


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central