FRISCO - It all comes down to this for FC Dallas’ 2017 campaign. A win and some help, the season lives on. A win or draw without help or a loss, it’s over.
Dallas (10-10-3) comes into Sunday’s meeting with LA on the heels of a lopsided defeat in Seattle, but with memories of their last home game almost a month ago - a 2-0 win over Colorado. The Galaxy (8-17-8) come to Frisco unbeaten in three matches, including a win over Minnesota last week, after a tumultuous 2017 campaign that has seen them sit at the bottom of the West all year, a head coach fired and their back-line anchor sold.
For All the Marbles
First and foremost, Dallas has to win Sunday’s match to put themselves in the best possible position to make the postseason, depending on some other results. If Dallas wins, the San Jose Earthquakes must lose or draw in their home finale against Minnesota United FC for FCD to advance. If Dallas musters a draw at home, San Jose must lose and Real Salt Lake cannot win their finale against Sporting KC at home. With all eleven league matches kicking off simultaneously on Decision Day, presented by AT&T, it’s sure to be two hours of chaos around MLS.
Key Match-Ups
Maynor Figueroa vs. Romain Alessandrini - The French rookie has been a bright spot to the dark season in Carson and has four goals and an assist in their last four matches, putting forth 16 shots in the process. Owning the right side of the attack for the Galaxy, Alessandrini will look to expose the veteran Figueroa to keep his run going.
Mauro Diaz vs. Jermaine Jones - The Magician will go head-to-head with the physical veteran perhaps for the final time with the 35-year-old’s future is uncertain as the Galaxy certainly will re-assess their roster from top to bottom after a disappointing campaign. Jones has started just 18 games with injury and international absences aplenty in 2017.
Last Time Out
(4-2-3-1): Clement Diop; Ashley Cole, Dave Romney, Michael Ciani, Bradley Diallo; Jonathan Dos Santos, Jermaine Jones; Emmanuel Boateng, Bradford Jamiesson, Romain Alessandrini; Giovani Dos Santos.
Keys to Three Points
It’s been a long second half to 2017 for FC Dallas, but they’ll have to put all of that to bed, especially last week’s result in Seattle, and focus on the last task at hand with Playoffs still a possibility in Week 33. If they can return to the defensive form that emerged prior to last week’s game on the road, while continuing to look for that last ball in the attacking third to get the offense flowing, they can finish out the regular season on the right foot against the lowly Galaxy.
