Let's play two.
LAFC travel to FC Dallas on Sunday for the second leg of a back-to-back series. With just three days separating the two teams from a contentious 2-0 LAFC victory at Banc of California Stadium, you can be sure there will be no love lost between these two sides.
LAFC's only other foray into a back-to-back series in 2019 got off to a similar start. The Black & Gold defeated the Seattle Sounders 4-1 at home before turning around to face Brian Schmetzer's up in Seattle. That match resulted in a 1-1 draw. So LAFC has a second chance in a second back-to-back to secure two wins against a Western Conference foe.
Here's a look at LAFC-FC Dallas, Part 2:
LAFC at FC Dallas, May 19 at 4:30pm PT
Where To Watch
TV: YouTube TV, UniMás (note the time change to 4:30pm PT, match was originally scheduled for 12pm)
Radio: ESPNLA 710, KFWB 980
Official LAFC Watch Party: Joxer Daly's (be there for a chance to win a Tyler Miller signed jersey)
Opponent Form
After their 2-0 loss in LA, FC Dallas is on a bit of a skid. Luchi Gonzalez's team has lost three in a row and is winless in the last four matches. They managed a foothold against LAFC to start the second half with the score at just 1-0 but the Black & Gold had just too much quality in the end.
What The Team Is Saying
Mark-Anthony Kaye on facing FC Dallas again in three days: "It's always difficult when you play a team twice in such a short time span. I think we're used to it now because we've just done the same thing with Seattle. The match gets a little bit chippy and guys start to get a little bit emotional but that's part of the game. I think we expect it from certain teams and it just makes Sunday going to be even more entertaining."
Carlos Vela on playing smart and capitalizing on big moments: "The first half was really, really good. We pressed with high intensity. The second half was difficult to continue on the same page. We tried but sometimes the legs weren't all facing the same direction. But after that, we talked about being smart and waiting for our chances because we were winning. They had to take more risks and then we have more chances to score goals. That's the way to win games, be clever in your movements and then when you have chances you have to score."
LAFC Projected Starting XI
(4-3-3): Tyler Miller; Jordan Harvey, Eddie Segura, Walker Zimmerman, Steven Beitashour; Eduard Atuesta, Mark-Anthony Kaye, Latif Blessing; Diego Rossi, Christian Ramirez, Carlos Vela.
What To Watch For
To Rotate Or Not To Rotate: A quick turnaround and flight to Dallas give Bob Bradley a few things to think about. LAFC is back at home less than a week later to take on the Montreal Impact. That's three matches in nine days. Bradley has said it would be unrealistic to play the same team in all three matches but does he make the changes against a Western Conference opponent or when they return home to face Montreal?
Rossi Back In The Goals: What a difference a goal makes. Diego Rossi had gone six matches without a goal before scoring against FC Dallas on Thursday night. Strikers live off goals. It's a chicken and the egg scenario: What comes first, the goals or the confidence? Rossi looked to be pressing a bit as of late. The drought was definitely wearing on him. He's back in the goals now though and we might see the floodgates open once again.
Bad Blood: Will tempers have time to cool before both teams reach Dallas? Probably not. Although, whether Bressan takes part in the return match after his reckless tackle on Carlos Vela late in the match in LA remains to be seen. Expect things to be hot from the opening kick in Dallas - and I'm not just talking about the temperature. LAFC is getting the hang of teams gunning for them. Sunday will be another challenge in LAFC's ability to control their emotions while matching an opponent's intensity.
