FRISCO, Texas - After nearly a month, FC Dallas is back at Toyota Stadium to take on the reigning MLS Cup champions LAFC this Saturday, July 1 at 7:30PM.
Here's everything you need to know before the match.
How to Watch
The match will be available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
Kevin Egan and Mariano Trujillo will call the game in English on Apple TV with Jorge Perez-Navarro and Eduardo Biscayart providing Spanish commentary.
How to Listen
English: If you can't watch the match, you can listen to all the action on iHeartMedia 1190AM and the FC Dallas App. Host Sam Hale will provide pregame and postgame coverage beginning at 7PM with broadcasters Owen Newkirk and Steve Davis calling the game. Garrett Melcer will provide updates from the sideline.
Spanish: Carlos Alvarado and Rafa Calderon will call the game in Spanish on 1270AM, starting at 7:30PM.
Match Overview
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORDS
- FCD record: 7-7-5 (26 points - 7th in West)
- LAFC record: 9-4-5 (32 points - 2nd in West)
- FCD vs. LAFC all-time: 2-4-2 (9 goal scored, 14 goals conceded)
- FCD vs. LAFC home: 2-1-1 (7 goal scored, 6 goals conceded)
STORY LINES
- Home Sweet Home: FC Dallas is finally back at Toyota Stadium after a month of away trips and bye weeks. The club hasn't kicked a ball in its home venue since the 2-0 victory over St. Louis City on June 7 (and even that was just a 40-minute makeup game). It's a timely return with Dallas hosting the current MLS Cup holders LAFC, who are once against topping the Western Conference. Nico Estévez's team holds a strong 5-2-2 home record and have previous experience beating LAFC on home soil. Last year, Dallas came from behind to earn a 2-1 win over the eventual champs thanks to two second-half goals from Jesús Ferreira. The big difference this time, though, is FCD will have to do it without its leading scorer, who's away at the Gold Cup with the U.S. Men's National Team.
- Player Returns: Stop me if you've heard this before but FC Dallas has been dealing with a number of injuries in recent months. Paul Arriola, Sebastian Lletget, Paxton Pomykal, Tsiki Ntsabeleng, Geovane Jesus, Ema Twumasi and Jesús Jiménez have all missed a significant portion of the club's recent games. But there's hope on the horizon. Lletget was back in action last week against Austin FC and Tsiki Ntsabaleng AND Paxton Pomykal returned to training this week. Per head coach Estévez, the midfield pair are in contention to make the squad for Saturday's tilt against the champs. If they do, it will be a welcome sight for the entire FCD squad, many of whom have needed to play out of position to cover Dallas' injury-depleted midfield.
- The Champs, Round 2: Saturday's match is Dallas' second chance to knock the reigning champs of their perch. The first chance was back in March when 10-man Dallas nearly stole a point from BMO Stadium, until a certain MLS All-Star named Denis Bouanga came off the bench to score a late winner from an improbable angle. It was a frustrating result for Estévez's men who made a good account of themselves despite playing 10 vs. 11 for 55 minutes (Ema Twumasi was shown a red card in the first half). But, now they have the opportunity to avenge the defeat against an LAFC team that's down on its luck...by their standards, anyway. Steve Cherundolo's group is still tied for first in the West but only have two wins from its last six games. Plus, their road record doesn't jump off the page at 3-2-3. Dallas may like their chances this time around, especially with home-field advantage and a few potential player returns.
