The Los Angeles Galaxy dropped by Dallas on the road as the Galaxy lost for the fourth time in five matches as they dropped a winnable game 1-0 to FC Dallas away on Saturday night.
A Franco Jara goal on eight minutes was enough to earn all three points for the hosts, with a disjointed Galaxy first-half display and a Dejan Joveljić penalty miss on 65 minutes as the culprits for the latest loss. It ensured Los Angeles continued their dismal run of not winning in Dallas since 2015. They are now 1-9-1 when allowing the first goal.
LA Galaxy dropped by Dallas 1-0
“The punch to the gut is they scored exactly how we said they were going to try to play us – get the ball wide, roll balls behind the back line,” Galaxy Head Coach Greg Vanney shared despondently. “It seemed like a nothing moment that ends up in the back of their net.”
A Marco Farfan pass, on the left wing, found Jara behind the Galaxy defense. A streaking Jara’s first-time shot snuck through rushing Galaxy goalkeeper Jonathan Bond’s legs for the nutmeg and early 1-0 Dallas lead.
Quick start for @FCDallas at home!
Farfan ➡️ Jara ➡️ 1-0 pic.twitter.com/WRiVEE96Nv
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 31, 2022
Bond, who perhaps could have done better with Jara’s tame shot, called the goal-scoring play “a little bit unlucky.”
“Difficult one really. I’m happy to critique myself on any goal that goes in, but I was a little bit unlucky because I got tight to him and then my initial thought was he was going to take a touch around me, and then I kind of started to go that way, and then he poked it through my legs.”
Second-half spark
The early strike stunned the Galaxy, who did very little in the first 45 minutes to warrant a tie, despite starting all three DP players together for just the second time this season.
They were much more dangerous in the second, with Raheem Edwards providing better energy off the bench.
Your @Allstate Save of the Match, because, well, duhhhh pic.twitter.com/HiKA2y3yyy
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) July 31, 2022
L.A. finally made the pressure tell when Javier “Chicharito” Hernández was brought down in the penalty area by Farfan in the 63-minute. Both were contesting a 50-50 ball when the goalscorer clipped the Galaxy captain’s ankles, earning the penalty and the opportunity for the Galaxy to tie.
Joveljić, who had recently come in, had the perfect opportunity to add to his good scoring record recently. The striker shot hard and low, only for Dallas Keeper Maarten Paes to save the normally dependable substitute’s attempt and preserve the lead and victory 1-0.
And although Los Angeles had several good chances to equalize in the second, they could not rescue a result in Texas. It means the Galaxy will have to wait for revenge for the 3-1 drubbing FC Dallas handed them at home in May.
Decision Day Danger
The loss leaves them in eighth place with 13 games left in the season and below the playoff line. With time running out for the Galaxy to save their season, the club will start to feel the pressure.
But Bond thinks the Galaxy could’ve gotten more from the game. He was defiant about whether he thinks L.A. is a playoff-bound team.
“Yes, I do. Like you said, it is very tight. We could have easily come away with a point or three points today, and it would have looked very different,” the keeper claimed. “And obviously, it’s no good saying we’re running out of games. There’s still a large chunk of the season to go, but it’s getting to that point where we do need results.”
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) July 31, 2022
With two of their next three matches coming against teams directly behind them in the standings, Bond is correct in that the Galaxy needs results.
It is not enough to say, they “could’ve” won, especially in these “winnable” games.
Los Angeles will visit Sporting KC next Saturday in league play. They will then face Liga MX side, Club Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas), in the Leagues Cup Showcase at SoFi Stadium on Wednesday, August 3.
Photo Credit: FC Dallas on July 31, 2022.
