LAFC vs FC Dallas
Saturday, July 1 at 5:30pm PT
Location: Toyota Stadium - Frisco, Texas
Radio: 710 AM ESPN, ESPN LA App, 980 AM La Mera Mera
After falling 3-2 to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, June 24, LAFC hits the road to take on FC Dallas on Saturday, July 1, at Toyota Stadium.
The Black & Gold lost at home for just the third time this season, which put the Club in a two-way tie with St. Louis City SC for the top spot in the Western Conference. (St. Louis holds the top spot because of goal differential.)
Saturday will mark the second clash between LAFC and FCD this season. The Black & Gold won 2-1 in in late March. FC Dallas is coming off two straight losses – to the Portland Timbers (1-0 on June 11) and Austin FC (3-0 on June 21).
FC DALLAS IN-DEPTH
Led by second-year head coach Nico Estévez, FC Dallas is looking to regain the form it displayed in 2022. The club went into the Audi 2022 MLS Playoffs as the third seed before being knocked out by Austin FC in the Western Conference Semifinals.
Dallas currently sits in seventh place in the Western Conference Standings with 26 points through 19 games played.
FC Dallas will be without star forward Jesús Ferreira, who is on USMNT duty (and this week became the fastest player to reach double-digit goals in USMNT history). Ferreira leads FC Dallas with 10 goals in 18 MLS matches played.
The Club is also expected to be without forward Paul Arriola, who is dealing with a thigh injury.
LAFC WILL WIN IF
it can take advantage of Ferreira’s absence. FC Dallas has failed to score in back-to-back matches for the first time in nearly two years. LAFC’s attack, meanwhile, saw forwards Dénis Bouanga and Carlos Vela score in the same match for the first time this year (vs. Vancouver on June 21). If Bouanga and Vela bring their A-games to North Texas (where kickoff temperature is expected to be 80 degrees), LAFC will get the three points.
FC DALLAS CAN WIN IF
the heat and humidity catch LAFC off-guard. Dallas is always tough at home— with Ferreira or without him. Their 4-4-2 lineup will likely try to clog the midfield and wear down an LAFC team that hasn’t had much of a break in 2023.
