Los Angeles Galaxy vs. FC Dallas: Live Blog

Jul 7, 2013; Carson, CA, USA; FC Dallas defender Stephen Keel (22) kicks the ball away from Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Juninho (19) during the second half at the StubHub Center. The Los Angeles Galaxy defeated the FC Dallas 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy are looking to get back on the winning track after an awful outing on the road when they host Oscar Pareja’s FC Dallas at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. The Galaxy are currently 2-3-3 (nine points) and have the worst record in the MLS Western Conference. Meanwhile, FC Dallas are 5-5-2 (17 points) and are third in the Western Conference.

While the Galaxy do have the services of Robbie Keane, they are without Landon Donovan and Omar Gonzalez, two important players that are away with the USA Men’s National Team ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. Can the Galaxy improvise to deliver a statement win? Or can FC Dallas continue to build momentum heading into the World Cup break?

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET and will be televised by MLS LIVE. The Live Blog will begin at 6:00 p.m. PT/9:00 p.m. ET. Keep it right here on the MLS Multiplex for continuing coverage of the 2014 Major League Soccer season.

Refresh the screen for updates!

T-90: Welcome to the Live Blog between the Los Angeles Galaxy and FC Dallas, live from StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. I’m Jo-Ryan Salazar, the editor of the MLS Multiplex on the world-famous FanSided Network. It’s a clear afternoon here in Southern California, with a light breeze. This will make for some great prime-time football.

Here’s a preview of the match, from MLSSoccer.com.

"REFEREE: Allen Chapman. AR1 (bench): Ian Anderson; AR2 (opposite): Fabio Tovar; 4th: Daniel RadfordMLS Career: 37 games; FC/gm: 22.0; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 9; pens: 10SUSPENDED: noneWARNINGS:SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: noneSUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: DAL: Fabian Castillo, MichelDISABLED LIST: noneINTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: LA: Landon Donovan, Omar Gonzalez (USA)HEAD-TO-HEADALL-TIME (60 meetings): Galaxy 29 wins (1 shootout), 107 goals… FC Dallas 20 wins (1 shootout), 80 goals… Ties 11AT LA (30 meetings): Galaxy 21 wins (1 shootout), 62 goals … FC Dallas 5 wins (1 shootout), 29 goals … Ties 4RETURN MATCHES: 9/20: LA Galaxy vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m. PT; 10/12: FC Dallas vs. LA Galaxy, 6 p.m. CTLAST YEAR (MLS):4/13: DAL 1, LA 0 (John 87)7/7: LA 2, DAL 0 (Sarvas 65; Jimenez 80)8/11: DAL 3, LA 3 (Donovan 46+; 73; 82 – Hedges 15; Perez 48, 86)• The teams evenly split their three games a season ago, each winning once with one draw. The FCD victory in the first meeting snapped a four-game losing streak against the Galaxy, their first win in the series since May 1, 2011.• The Galaxy are undefeated in Carson over the last five meetings vs. FC Dallas in league play, dating back to the start of the 2010 season, going 3-0-1 in that time. But FC Dallas claimed the Western Conference Championship in Carson in 2010, a 3-0 victory.• Coaches record: Oscar Pareja vs. LA: P6 W2 L3 T1 … Bruce Arena vs. DAL: P23 W12 L8 T4The LA Galaxy saw their winless run stretched to four games, falling by the game’s only goal to the Houston Dynamo on Saturday evening  at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Galaxy sit in a ninth place in the Western Conference with 9 points from 8 games.FC Dallas stopped their losing slide but still had their winless run stretched to five games, coming back for a 1-1 draw with Chivas USA on Saturday evening at Toyota Stadium. FC Dallas sit in third place in the Western Conference with 17 points from 12 games."

This live blog was supposed to start 15 minutes prior, but I had a bit of delay starting up the laptop and getting this set. Better late than never, right?

T-75: We have a final score at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. D.C. United 2, Houston Dynamo 0.

T-70: And the LA Galaxy, in a partnership with Make-A-Wish, signed a new player by the name of Jacob Trainor. He will make his debut against FC Dallas tonight.

“It’s going to be a close game and hopefully we’ll get a lot of shots and we’ll win,” Trainor told LAGalaxy.com’s Adam Serrano. “I’m very excited and nervous at the same time.”

“He’s a good young man,” said Arena. “When you’re concerned about things in life, I’m not really concerned about where the LA Galaxy are.  To see a young man like that has dealt with adversity and to come out the way that he has, I imagine that the little difficulties that we have, we can dig ourselves out of.”

T-65: “I think we should be undefeated,” Arena told Serrano. “I’m not saying all wins, but we shouldn’t have any marks in the loss column. We’ve actually played much better than our record indicates, but that’s nobody’s fault but our own.

“I’ll leave it at that. We have plenty of time to demonstrate that we’re a team that belongs at the top of the table, not at the bottom.”

T-60: An hour to go. So, what is Landon Donovan up to these days? That’s right, he’s trying to make it to what would be his last FIFA World Cup.

“This is my last chance at this,” said Donovan to Serrano. “In that way, it’s new and exciting. It’s always fun to see younger faces and I’ve had a benefit of being next to a guy here in LA who is super excited for this opportunity. I’ve been sharing this with him and it makes it more excited for me.”

“Right now, we’re all in a mode where we’re competing and trying to make a team. It really consumes your energy at all times and making sure that you’re doing all the right things to make the team,” he added. “I’m very confident in my ability and I think that I deserve to be a part of the squad, but I have to prove that.”

T-55: I want to ask you a question: who will win the World Cup? I got Spain, but what about you? Sound off in the comments.

T-50: And what about Dallas? How will they solve Los Angeles? Watch the clip, right here!

T-49: Here’s an unusual promotion they’re having: if Gyasi Zardes scores in this game, everybody in attendance gets a free oil change. If this isn’t reaching at its most low-brow, color me shocked.

T-45: Both teams go through their warmups.

T-30: 30 minutes to kickoff. Wanna match wits with the experts ahead of the big show in Brazil? Check out the Brazil Bracket Challenge.

T-28: Catch up on all news on the World Cup here on the FanSided Network.

T-25: Lineups.

Lineup

Bench

Officials

T-20: Formations.

Los Angeles Galaxy vs. FC Dallas formations, May 21, 2014.

T-11: Both teams conclude warmups.

T-2: Sparse crowd here tonight… midweek match, of course.

T-0: Both teams enter the pitch to the strains of Audiobrain’s MLS Anthem.

National anthem by Melanie Amaro.

FIRST HALF START: 7:39 P.M. PT/10:39 P.M. ET

1′ – Let’s start this. Busy day for the local teams in Los Angeles. Dodgers and Angels going through the grind, and the Kings are on the ice against Chicago in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Oh yes, and this game too. By the way, the Kings are running it up on Chicago, 5-2, in the third period of Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. Down to a best of five down there. Here, it’s a best of 90 minutes.

2′ – Here’s Jaime Penedo to play this forward. Badly reeled in by Gyasi Zardes. Galaxy recover, but Allen Chapman sees a foul. Here is Raul Fernandez. Throw-in, Dallas. Zach Loyd plays it forward. Not so fast, Je-Vaughn Watson. Goal kick to Penedo.

3′ – Decent possession there but broken up.

4′ – Andrew Jacobson, Dallas’s captain, is shaken up.

5′ – FC Dallas look to be smart with the ball, and their passing is as advertised.

6′ – Well, that was an obvious free kick, but it took him all of five seconds to come up with that conclusion.

7′ – And Jacobson makes a meal of that. Wide left.

8′ – Good containment here, and Gyasi Zardes ran out of space on that through ball from Robbie Keane.

9′ – Dallas need to come up with something here this first hafl. It’s as if they don’t have any idea on how to move the ball.

10′ – Aha! Here’s a chance for Dallas…and there it goes. Great reaction. No, Robbie, you won’t get that call from Allan here. Get on with it.

11′ — Offsides, Watson.

12′ – A shot from Watson is parried away for a corner to Dallas. Watson was mentioned in the recent 10 Bold Predictions. Will he score?

13′ – The Jair Benitez corner is collected by Penedo. This is Kofi Opare. Bad giveaway.

14′ – LA recover. Here’s Keane. Zardes to Keane, cleared by Stephen Keel. Keel, of course, is on the cover of our Live Blog.

15′ – And Loyd wins another throw. Dallas haven’t had much possession, but they’ve had chances.

16′ – Here’s Matt Hedges with possession. This will be a bit of a midfield battle for now…

17′ – Excellent double-team on Samuel by the Dallas backline.

18′ – Too much shimmy from Dan Gargan. There’s a reason why you got a 1 in your last match, Dan. Yes?

19′ – “Not so fast, A.J.,” says Allan Chapman.

20′ – Penedo asks his troops to move forward. Opare, Juninho, Meyer, rinse and repeat.

21′ – Dan Gargan is hurt. As if his night wasn’t harrowing enough…

22′ – And the midfield battle continues. I have concluded that this is where the match may be one. Which midfield is more game in this game?

23′ — Zardes on the attack, and Zardes runs out of space.

24′ – Some Futbolero stuff from A.J. DeLaGarza. And now, Keane!

GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 7 Robbie Keane

Open space, easy finish, automatic. Any questions?

25′ – Oh yes, and a little shiftiness from Keane. Finished liked a true captain should. And we have a man down for Dallas. Might be Jacobson. Again.

26′ – Substitution FC Dallas

IN 6 Adam Moffat

OUT 4 Andrew Jacobson

27′ – Jacobson is D.O.N.E. Enter Dallas’s ice-cold Scotsman, who has now played for both Texas teams playing in MLS.

28′ – Raul Fernandez was walking the tightrope, with Samuel on his tail.

29′ – Keane is denied again. Now here comes Dallas. Dan Gargan, singlehandedly, is keeping Dallas in this game. I kid you not. Why did LA sign this rambler again?

30′ – Zardes, Opare, and DeLaGarza team up to bail LA out of a pinch.

31′ – The aforementioned Keel plays it forward. LA surround Danny Garcia, but their chance is denied by Moffat.

32′ – Well, this is a dangerous opportunity to give up, just outside the box. This is two close chances now on a platter for the visitors. What will Benitez do? Send it to Penedo, of course! Goal kick.

33′  – Penedo with another collection. DeLaGarza’s cross intended for Samuel misses everything, except the end line. Goal kick, Fernandez.

34′ – Opare and Zardes team up for that header, like a couple of brothers should.

35′ – Good recovery from DeLaGarza.  Overhead kick for Stefan Ishizaki misses.

36′ – Loyd with his next throw-in, now it’s Benitez. A chance! Swept aside. And Zardes wins a throw.

37′ – Yellow card 28 Kofi Opare

Los Angeles Galaxy

That’s a bit of a reckless slewfoot right there from Opare. He’ll need to be careful.

38′ – Keane plays it forward and loses possession. Too much involvement.

39′ – Good chance there from LA. DeLaGarza is denied by Watson.

40′ – 40 minutes in, and it’s still 1-0 LA.

41′ – Well, LA are racking up possession, but they need to get some shots off.  Good sell from the rookie Tesho Akindele.

42′ – Keane wins that argument, for once, and here is a free-wait a minute, it’s a simple restart.\

43′ – A header from Zardes and a volley from Gargan were blocked.

Yellow card 13 Tesho Akindele

FC Dallas

Take your lumps, rookie.

44′ – Juninho decides to play it smart and make it a simple restart.

GOAL! Los Angeles Galaxy 11 Gyasi Zardes

There it is, a free oil change. Enjoy, fans.

45′ – Let’s see how many minutes we have here. Three minutes. Well.

45′ +  1′ – And Chapman says, nope, give it to Dallas, LA. Still trying to sway this in the visitors’ favor? Well…

45′  + 2′ – A long goal kick here for Penedo. Won by Samuel.

45′  + 3′ – Keel now. Room for one more? Nope. Garcia clamors for a penalty. Not gonna happen. Free kick, Fernandez.

45′  + 4′ – Halftime.

HALFTIME

Los Angeles Galaxy 2

FC Dallas 0

Team Statistics

Los Angeles       FC Dallas

Goals and Assists

Disciplinary

SECOND HALF START: 8:43 P.M. PT/11:43 P.M. PT

46′  – Now this match can go one of two ways. It can either be the Galaxy keeping it a finish clinic, albeit one sided…or it can be FC Dallas making this a wide open track meet. Given how porous LA’s defense can be in the second half, the safe bet is to go with the latter, even if this is a home game. Yes? Let’s find out what happens, here on the MLS Multiplex.

Substitution FC Dallas

IN 91 Andres Escobar

OUT 26 Danny Garcia 

47′ – Easy collection from Penedo on Akindele to start the second half. Samuel wins a throw. Here’s the embattled Dan Gargan with the throw. Almost found Zardes. Stefan Ishizaki walks the tightrope. A shot from Samuel misses wide right. Goal kick for Fernandez.

48′ – Jair Benitez with the sweep. Here’s Matt Hedges. Not so fast, Akindele, says Penedo. Another victory for experience over youth.

49′ – Gargan needs to do a better job reeling those balls in. Can’t expect Penedo to bail him out all of the time.

50′ – Throw-in for Dallas. Another gaffe for Samuel.

51′ – Gargan with the “don’t argue.” Dallas’s next counter is cleared. But this is what Dallas needs to do, pressure the Galaxy’s defense.

52′ – And how do you add pressure? Dominate possession. If the Galaxy can be organized in the back, it will put steam off Penedo. Benitez with his own version of the “don’t argue.”

53′ – Now I don’t know why we had a commercial on the big board during the run of play. Strange.

54′ – Gargan is out to prove why he won’t get a 1 this game. Solid job so far. Ishizaki with the cross. Kenney Walker now. First time I called his name.

55′  – A cross from Ishizaki to Keane! Wide right.

56′ – But the football so far from LA is smooth as lotion. It’s pretty smooth, and is what the Galaxy was lacking in their road trip.

57′ – Zardes is trying to be smart here and lay the ball off. Good movement. Chapman awards a free kick.

58′ – Ishizaki’s next attempt misses wide right. Goal kick, Raul Fernandez.

59′ – As we approach the hour mark, the time has come for Dallas to try a high line and go with a more attacking style. Only down two goals but time is of the essence.

60′ – Poor layoff from Akindele. Throw-in to Gargan, who is playing a little bit better in the back. Hour mark, still 2-0 Galaxy.

61′ – Dallas on the attack. Adam Moffat cross is wide. FCD recover. Corner.

62′ – Benitez to take this. It’s cleared.

63′ – DeLaGarza with the clearance, followed by a triple-team on Benitez. Samuel again. Zach Loyd with the legs.

64′ – Here’s Fabian Castillo. Victor Ulloa now. First time I called his name, Here’s Keane. Keane denied by Keel! All K’s!

65′ – Swing and a miss from Akindele on the counter. Now it’s wide-open football at its finest. Benitez takes that, and it’s Akindele who scores.

GOAL! FC Dallas 13 Tesho Akindele

“The harder I work, the luckier I get.” This is a kid with a huge upside. Watch out for him.

66′ – Well, I warned you folks to go with the latter in my two possible routes at halftime. This is one of those “I Told You So” moments.

67′ – Castillo now. Andres Escobar, the sub. Offsides, Dallas.

68′ – Keane failes to find Zardes on the left side.

69′ – A chip from Keano is collected by Fernandez. Corner, Dallas.

70′ – I just realized something. Both managers have grey suits and bald heads. This is one of those “separated at birth?” moments. Zardes is shaken up.

71′ – Yellow card  27 Je-Vaughn Watson

FC Dallas

72′ – 14,615 in attendance tonight. Benitez now. He’s been playing lights-out football. Offsides, Dallas.

73′ – Goal kick, Penedo. No shutout tonight for Jimmy P, but there might a blown tire if Dallas ties this. Juninho now.

74′ – Substitutions Los Angeles Galaxy 

IN

6 Baggio Husidic

40 Raul Mendiola

OUT

24 Stefan Ishizaki

9 Samuel

75′ – Crunch time now. Who will win these last 15 minutes and stoppage time? You have to reckon, based on form, it has to be Dallas, but we’ll have to wait and see.

76′ – Some ball movement to melt the clock from LA. A bit too early, as Fernandez plays it forward.

77′ – Gyasi Zardes wins a corner. Raul Mendiola showing his skills late. Husidic to take. Cleared. Husidic again. Another corner.

78′ – Rinse and repeat, then a blast from Juninho is collected by Fernandez.

79′ – Galaxy playing it back? Perhaps to melt some seconds off that clock.  Keane pulling the strings.

80′ – Another shot from Juninho misses the top right corner.

81′ – Substitution FC Dallas

IN 7 Blas Perez

OUT 13 Tesho Akindele

82′ – Now Blas Perez can shoot. Can he pull even here late and be the super sub Dallas needs? Stephen Keel now. Here is Keane, lays it off for Juninho. Moffat with the shin music.

83′ – That’s the game plan now for Dallas; give it to Blas. Meyer with the clearance. Goal kick, Penedo.

84′ -Keane tried to find Mendiola but he was chasing the ball. And in times like this, that’s not what you want to do but he’ll learn.

85′ – A bad throw from Gargan. He found no one in white with a blue sash.

86′ – Keel now plays it forward. And Zardes gives it away. Sloppiness late.

87′ – Castillo now, Penedo sweeps. Je-Vaughn Watson can’t believe it, gesturing to the ref in disgust.

88′ – Opare concedes a corner. That’s the least he can do. Another corner. Take…two.

89′ – Chapman will have a little warning for a couple of players before we continue. Benitez. Both volleys go over the bar. Goal kick.

90′ – And Opare is hurt. And heading into stoppage time, that’s never a good sign.

90′ + 1′ – Two minutes additional time. Chapman wants to get out of here, it seems. So, the next minute will condense everything else. Stay tuned.

90′ + 2′ – There’s a shot from Perez, and a poor clearance from DeLaGarza. Dallas now plays the high line, and  here comes Keane. And his slowdown ends it. Well done, LA.’

FINAL

LOS ANGELES GALAXY 2

FC DALLAS 1

Team Statistics

LOS ANGELES GALAXY   FC DALLAS

Goals and Assists

Disciplinary

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