FC Dallas ready to face star-studded Galaxy

 

After a valuable road draw versus newcomers LAFC, Dallas returns home to face the LA Galaxy.

After a road loss to NYCFC, Dallas made a trip ato western foes LAFC to try an spoil their perfect home streak Saturday. In just their second home game after debuting the Banc of California Stadium, FCD nabbed a point thanks to Maxi Urruti in the second half. Goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer had great saves of his own to help keep Dallas alive, and the defensive remained tidy. With a bit of luck, Dallas kept LAFC at bay, with the Los Angeles tallying just four shots out of fifteen on frame. This is not anything to scoff at, as LA boasts DPs Diego Rossi and Mexican international star Carlos Vela, both being kept off the scoreboard.

Santiago Mosquera, one of FC Dallas’ new attacking acquisitions, continue to impress with a goal and assist in the past two games. Mosquera assisted Maxi Urruti’s goal Saturday, and had some featured offensive flair on MLS’ Instagram.

Jimmy Maurer continues to hold his spot at the starting goalkeeper role, and Kellyn Acosta saw some minutes for this first time in 2018. After undergoing a sports hernia surgery in the offseason, Kellyn Acosta kept on his 8-week track and made the 18 for FCD. He tallied about 30 minutes for Los Angeles, and still showed signs of some rust. He will be one to keep an eye on, as he has to beat out Ecuadorian destroyer Carlos Gruezo and revelation Jacori Hayes to start. This, however, is not a bad thing, as depth will be needed in the brutal summer months. Coach Pareja will also look to make US Open Cup run, and will likely rotate between his 4 defensive mid options.

Dallas return home to host the star-studded LA Galaxy. The “LA Originals” are boasting the massive signing of superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and look to ruin FCD’s unbeaten home streak. On paper, the Galaxy are offensively the superior team. Notably, they carry the Mexican Dos Santos Bros, Ola Kamara, US international Sebastian Lleget and the Swede himself, but currently sit 8th in the Western Conference. There has been a lack of cohesion for the Galacticos, and their season has been riddled with key injuries and new noisy neighbors. Even with the big-name squad, LAFC have overshadowed them with their current success and new stadium.

Dallas, however, continues to have the best defense in the league on goals allowed. Even after a 3-1 loss to NYCFC, FCD have the only single-digit figure in the league with only seven goals allowed.

The biggest item for fans to look out for in is whether Mauro Diaz will start. The number 10 sat versus LAFC last week, and only saw forty-five minutes vs NYCFC. Against NYCFC, the field was too small to play freely. Versus LAFC, the field was play on grass in a normal-sized field. If he doesn’t start at home, it may be a telling sign of what his future will hold. FC Dallas social media is bringing light to the emergence of the Mosquera/Urruti combination.

Using Mosquera has mostly kept Diaz out of the starting eleven. To keep Santiago and keep Mauro in, Pareja would have to remove Roland Lamah, but Lamah currently boasts as the team’s leader in goals. This will be interesting to look at, as Oscar Pareja’s 4-4-2 system has yielded good results.

Kickoff is at 2:30 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco on Staurday. TV broadcast will be live on Univision.

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