FC Dallas will head to Southern California for the only time this season on Sunday as they face the LA Galaxy for the third and final time in 2015. Dallas took the first meeting between the two sides in May, 2-1, while LA took the rematch last month, also by a 2-1 score. FCD is second in the Western Conference with 47 points and a record of 14-9-5. The Galaxy also have 47 points, but sit in third with a 13-9-8 record. Dallas saw their three-game winning streak halted last week in Kansas City. LA has picked up just one point in their last three games.
THE RUBBER MATCH
As the regular season winds down, Sunday’s match-up carries heavy playoff implications. Both teams are just seven points above the red line, but Dallas has two games in hand over LA. Coming into the weekend, the magic number of points to clinch a playoff spot is 54 with the three teams not in a playoff spot – San Jose, Houston and RSL – having a maximum point total of 53. A win for either Dallas or LA would put them within striking distance of securing a playoff spot.
KEY PLAYER FOR LA GALAXY
Robbie Keane – The Galaxy’s top striker missed the first meeting in May, but more than made up for it in August. In a game that many in the FCD room felt they should’ve won, Keane capitalized on two key Dallas mistakes and buried a shot past Dan Kennedy on each. When needed, Keane can carry his team and without a win in their last three league games, they’ll need him on Sunday.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Fabian Castillo vs. Robbie Rogers – Recently named the top player in MLS under the age of 24, Castillo will look to return to form this week after an inconsistent start to September for the Colombian international. Castillo’s speed down the wing is trouble for any outside back, but Rogers has been able to hold him in check in the first two meetings.
Mauro Diaz vs. Juninho – The Magician’s absence from the last meeting was felt in the midfield, but he’s poised to make his return to the lineup this weekend on the West Coast. He assisted on both Dallas goals in May’s match-up and will be a central re-addition to FCD’s attack.
PROJECTED LINEUP
Goalkeeper: Donovan Ricketts; Defenders: Robbie Rogers, Leonardo, Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza; Midfielders: Sebastian Lletget, Steven Gerrard, Juninho, Gyasi Zardes; Forwards: Giovani dos Santos, Robbie Keane.
KEYS TO THREE POINTS
Dallas is raring to prove that August’s result was not reflective of how the game went while taking another step towards playoff qualification. If Jesse Gonzalez and the FCD back four can return to their form from the three-game winning streak and the offense can receive a spark from Mauro Diaz and Fabian Castillo returning to the starting XI, Dallas can take the season series on Soccer Sunday.
