FRISCO, Texas – LA Galaxy Insider Adam Serrano’s Three Points from the LA Galaxy’s 2-1 defeat to FC Dallas. The loss ends the Galaxy’s 10-game unbeaten streak and allows FC Dallas to clinch a spot in the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs.
LA GALAXY GO AHEAD EARLY….
Robbie Keane may have been thousands of miles away from Toyota Stadium on Sunday night, but the LA Galaxy captain likely nodded in approval over Stefan Ishizaki’s impressive chip that put LA ahead early in Frisco.
Ishizaki put the Galaxy on top after 22 minutes by cleaning up a deflection and then delivering a deft chip shot that looped over FC Dallas goalkeeper Chris Seitz. The goal was Ishizaki’s first since Aug. 28 when he scored in the Galaxy’s 3-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC.
However once the goal was scored, the Galaxy saw their attempts on frame dwindle due to the intense pressure of the FC Dallas offense.
…BUT CAN’T HOLD ON
The visitors went ahead early on but after the goal by Ishizaki, it was all FC Dallas as the home side scored two goals in the second half to top LA.
Dallas struck just seven minutes into the second half when Andres Escobar threaded a pass through the Galaxy defense to David Texeira who easily beat Galaxy goalkeeper Jaime Penedo from close range. The home side kept the pressure going late into the second half and broke through in the 87th minute when an errant Penedo clearance fell perfectly for Fabian Castillo who easily headed the game-winner into an empty net.
Dallas went down to 10 men in the final minute of regulation after a late Moises Hernandez challenge on Jose Villarreal, but the Galaxy were unable to find the equalizer. The loss is the Galaxy’s first after scoring first.
MISSED OPPORTUNITY SETS UP DEFINING TWO-GAME SERIES WITH SEATTLE
Following the loss to FC Dallas, LA Galaxy’s bid for the Supporters’ Shield will go down to the team’s home-and-home series with Seattle Sounders FC.
LA host Seattle in the first leg of the series next Sunday with an opportunity to pull ahead of the first place Sounders with a win before heading to CenturyLink Field the following Saturday. Should the Galaxy get four points from the two games, they will clinch not only the Supporters’ Shield, but homefield throughout the MLS Cup Playoffs.
While the Galaxy’s bid for the Supporters’ Shield is still in question, there’s no doubt that the final two games will be incredibly exciting to watch.
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
