Still licking their wounds from their gut-wrenching US Open Cup exit, a disconsolate Dallas play host to Los Angeles Galaxy in MLS on Saturday.
The Galaxy have lost each of their last seven visits to the Toyota Stadium since scraping a narrow 2-1 victory in August 2015 and will head into the weekend looking to end this poor run.
Match preview
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Dallas' bid for a third US Open Cup title came to an end on Wednesday night when they fell to a 2-1 extra-time defeat against Sporting Kansas City in their quarter-final clash at the Children's Mercy Park.
Having suffered 3-2 loss when the sides met in the league just three days earlier, the Burn were looking to exact their revenge against Sporting Kansas City, but with nothing to separate the teams after normal time, Colombian defender Daniel Valencia came up clutch for the visitors as he rose highest to head home the winner in the 111th minute.
Since their title triumph in 2016, Dallas have failed to go past the quarter-finals of the US Open Cup, suffering last-16 exits in 2017 and 2018, before crashing out in the quarter-final in 2022 courtesy of a 3-0 extra-time loss against Sporting Kansas City.
Thursday's defeat is in keeping with their slump in form in the league, where Peter Luccin's men have lost three of their last four matches — conceding nine goals and scoring seven — with a 3-2 home victory over Portland Timbers on July 5 being the exception.
Dallas have lost 11 of their 22 MLS matches so far while claiming six wins and five draws to collect 23 points and sit 11th in the Western Conference standings, seven points off the playoffs qualifying places.
After two games on the road, Dallas will be happy to return home, where they are unbeaten in eight of their last nine matches across all competitions, picking up six wins and two draws since the start of April.
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Los Angeles Galaxy, on the other hand, returned to winning ways last time out as they secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Minnesota United when the sides squared off at the Dignity Health Sports Park.
Brazilian striker Gabriel Pec grabbed the headlines as he scored either side of Teemu Pukki's 73rd-minute equaliser to hand the hosts all three points and condemn Minnesota to a sixth defeat on the bounce.
Prior to that, Los Angeles Galaxy saw their run of four consecutive victories come to an end on July 5, when they fell to a 2-1 home defeat against derby rivals Los Angeles FC, with Kei Kamara and Denis Bouanga getting on the scoresheet for the Black and Gold.
Greg Vanney's men have now picked up 12 wins from their 23 MLS matches so far while losing four and claiming seven draws to collect 43 points and sit third in the Western Conference table, level on points with Real Salt Lake and first-placed Los Angeles FC.
While the Galaxy will be looking to climb to the top of the conference standings this weekend, they will need to be at their best against a Dallas side who are unbeaten in 15 of their last 20 encounters, claiming 13 wins and two draws since May 2008.
Team News
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Dallas will have to cope without the services of experienced forward Paul Arriola, who is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Sporting Kansas City on June 8.
On the injury front, the hosts will take to the pitch without the attacking trio of Alan Velasco (ACL), Jesus Ferreira (hip) and Paxton Pomykal (knee), who continue their spells on the sidelines.
They are joined on the club's injury table by Geovane Jesus and Brazilian defender Patrickson Delgado, who are currently recuperating from knee and ACL injuries respectively.
Canadian midfielder Liam Fraser has missed the last three matches since picking up a hip injury against Cincinnati on June 30 and will play no part in Saturday's game.
As for Los Angeles Galaxy, they remain without the midfield duo of Jonathan Perez and 31-year-old Gaston Brugman, who have been sidelined through hamstring and knee injuries respectively.
Argentine defender Julian Aude missed last Monday's 2-1 victory against Minnesota United through a groin injury and the 21-year-old is a major doubt for Saturday's clash.
Serbian forward Dejan Joveljic has been a standout performer for the Galaxy this season and we expect the 24-year-old, who has 12 goals and four assists in 21 league games, to lead the attack once again.
Dallas possible starting lineup:
Melia; Pierre, Castellanos, Fontas, Leibold; Davis, Rodriguez; Vargas, Pulido, Salloi; Agada
Los Angeles Galaxy possible starting lineup:
McCarthy; Yamane, Caceres, Yoshida, Nelson; Delgado, Fagundez; Pec, Puig, Paintsil; Joveljic
We say: Dallas 2-2 Los Angeles Galaxy
The last five meetings between Dallas and Los Angeles Galaxy have produced a combined 18 goals and we anticipate another end-to-end affair at the Toyota Stadium. While the Toros are still reeling from their cup defeat, they have a solid home record over LA Galaxy, and we predict that they will hold out for a share of the spoils here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joshua Ojele
