FRISCO, Texas – Reigning MLS MVP Robbie Keane scored two goals in a five-minute stretch in the second half to down FC Dallas 2-1 on Saturday night at Toyota Stadium and leap to the top of the Western Conference.
The home team, missing playmaking midfielder Mauro Diaz due to quad tightness, were aggressive on the wings in the opening half and took the lead in the 33rd minute. Ryan Hollingshead won an aerial ball and headed it to a streaking Michael Barrios, who buzzed down the left flank and maneuvered past diving defender Omar Gonzalez and 'keeper Donovan Ricketts for his fourth goal of the season – all coming over the last six games.
The Galaxy had a handful of runs into the FC Dallas defensive third during the first half, but FCD routinely succeeded at clogging the passing lanes and clearing away any attempts. LA did not register a single shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes.
But things changed in the second half with two Keane header goals in a span of five minutes. The Irishman first headed home a chipped cross from Robbie Rogers in the 51st minute and then in the 56th minute it was Giovani Dos Santos who finished off a break by lifting the ball to a wide-open Keane right in front of the net.
The two tallies took Keane to 13 league goals on the season, four behind MLS scoring leader Kei Kamara of Columbus Crew SC.
FC Dallas thought they had an immediate equalizer in the 58th minute, but defender Matt Hedges was flagged for offside after Fabian Castillo placed a pass right on the out-stretched foot of the defender.
LA goalkeeper Ricketts and the rest of his squad would take care of the rest, coming up with several timely stops and tackles to thwart the remaining threats from the home side.
FC Dallas will travel to Vancouver next Saturday (10 pm ET, TSN1 and MLS LIVE), while the LA Galaxy have a quick turnaround and host Comunicaciones FC in the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday night (10 pm ET, FOX Sports 2).
