The LA Galaxy suffered their first loss in their first road trip of the season. FC Dallas beat the Galaxy 2-0 on a pair of defensive mistakes.
The LA Galaxy’s trip to Frisco, TX didn’t go as planned. With injuries to key players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romain Alessandrini, the team went into Toyota Stadium with a bit of a makeshift line up. The midfield featured brand new signing Joe Benny Corona started alongside Jonathan dos Santos with a surprise start from Sebastian Lletget, who was returning from injury.
Dallas created a lot of issues for LA at the edges of the attacking areas. The Galaxy having to concede a number of fouls in the first half. Both Rolf Feltcher and Sebastian Lletget saw yellow cards. Diego Polenta was lucky to avoid a yellow card as he hacked down Bryan Acosta in the 34th min. The referee didn’t even call a foul.
Still, The Galaxy created chances. At the end of the 1st 45 minutes, it felt like LA could steal the game. Rolf Feltcher and Uriel Antuna hit the post. Corona and Pontius both missed on free headers. The teams went into halftime tied at 0-0.
The Galaxy’s luck seemed to run out in the 2nd half however. Diego Polenta gave away a penalty in the 50th min when he kicked Matt Hedges’ arm as he tried to clear the ball from a corner kick. Polenta had already committed another dangerous mistake in the 35th minute when he seemingly played a ball off to Dominic Badji which sent him 1-on-1 with Bingham. Thankfully Badji missed on the shot. Polenta wasn’t so lucky here as referee Armando Villarreal confirmed with VAR that Polenta had raised his foot too high, and too late, kicking Hedges. Reto Ziegler converted the ensuing penalty to give Dallas the 1-0 lead.
FC Dallas doubled their lead in the 61st minute with a Bryan Acosta screamer. The play started when Joe Corona’s errant back pass was picked up by Pomykal at the top of the 18 yard box, Pomykal made his way to the end line and sent the ball back to the top of the 18 where Acosta was running on to the ball unimpeded. Bingham had no chance to save that one.
Sebastian Lletget’s day had to end early and will possibly be out for next week’s match as he was hit in the face with an elbow in the 57th min. He has since posted on his instagram that he has a broken nose.
16 year old Efrain Alvarez, replaced Lletget in the 59th minute and newly promoted Forward, Ethan Zubak made his first team debut in this match. Zubak and Alvarez combined for the best chance of the 2nd half as Zubak played off a cross from Rolf Feltcher for Alvarez. The youngster took a touch toward the goal, megging a defender in the process and hit a ball that was destined for the top corner but Dallas goalkeeper, Jesse Gonzalez got enough on it to send the ball out for a corner.
The LA Galaxy will return to “The Diggity” as they host a Minnesota United team that has been impressive in their first two outings.
