FC Dallas enters the final week of the season leading the MLS standings by two points, but obstacles remain in their path to the Supporters’ Shield. The Texas club regained control of the Shield race by beating Seattle with a dramatic 89th minute Carlos Ruíz winner last Sunday. They trailed the Colorado Rapids in the standings by a lone point entering that match, but seized full control with Sunday’s win and Colorado’s slip-up against the Portland Timbers.
Obstacles Between FC Dallas and the Supporters’ Shield
Missing Mauro Diaz
The path to the club’s first ever regular season title is not clear though. Playmaker, team captain and league MVP candidate Mauro Díaz was injured in the Seattle match and will miss the rest of the year with a torn achilles tendon. Díaz underwent a successful surgery to repair the injury on Wednesday but his season is clearly over. Díaz has five goals and 13 assists for Dallas this season.
Midfielder Kellyn Acosta also suffered a hip injury and left the same match, but his injury is less severe and he should be healthy for the playoffs. Regardless, FC Dallas head coach Óscar Pareja must quickly shore-up his midfield, and figure out where the creativity will come from without Díaz in his starting XI.
A Tough Road Test in LA to Close Out the Season
Another obstacle for FC Dallas comes in the form of the West’s third place LA Galaxy. Dallas will travel to California on Decision Day in search of a road result against Bruce Arena’s side. A win or a draw will guarantee FC Dallas the Supporters’ Shield and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Galaxy will be looking for revenge, after recently losing 1-0 to FC Dallas in Frisco on October 1st.
The Galácticos will also be looking for a statement win against the league’s top team to show that they are still the team to beat in the West. The Colorado Rapids can overtake FC Dallas and claim the Supporter’s shield if the Galaxy win, but Colorado must defeat the Houston Dynamo at home Sunday to do so.
Heavy Legs Due to Mid-Week CCL Action
The Texas side will be travel-weary entering the final match of the regular season. FC Dallas turned in a gritty performance on Thursday evening, defeating CD Suchitepequez 5-2 in Guatemala in the CONCACAF Champions League. FC Dallas had to get a result to gain safe passage to the quarterfinals and they did so with only a few regular starters in the lineup.
Those starters came up big, with Carlos Gruezo and Matt Hedges grabbing first half goals to equalize after Suchitepequez jumped out to an early two goal lead. 35-year-old Argentine midfielder Mauro Rosales also featured in the FC Dallas win. Rosales seems the most likely candidate to assume Díaz’s playmaking role if Pareja opts to keep his formation the same.
FC Dallas is one result away from earning a second trophy in what has already been a historic season for the club. Head Coach Óscar Pareja is urging his team to busca la forma, “to find a way,” [FC Dallas] despite the challenges they face leading up to Sunday and the MLS playoffs.
