On Saturday evening, the LA Galaxy's aspirations for a top seed in the Western Conference took a significant hit with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of FC Dallas. Despite dominating possession with nearly 64% of the ball, the Galaxy's inability to convert opportunities into goals left them with a fifth loss of the season.
John McCarthy, the Galaxy's goalkeeper, conceded two goals, one in each half, scored by Petar Musa and Logan Farrington. The Galaxy managed only nine shot attempts throughout the game, with just one on target, compared to FC Dallas's eighteen attempts, five of which were on target. This disparity in offensive efficiency highlighted the Galaxy's struggles, despite their control of the ball.
This loss marks the first time this season that the Galaxy have dropped multiple games in the same month. With their points tally stagnating at 41, they remain in a three-way tie with LAFC and Real Salt Lake, who also lost their matches on Saturday. This shared misfortune among the teams allowed Colorado Rapids to gain ground, now just three points behind the trio with 38 points.
The absence of forward Dejan Joveljic was notably felt, as the Galaxy failed to find the back of the net. An attempt to spark the offense by substituting Marky Delgado for Miguel Berry at halftime did little to change the game's dynamics. FC Dallas capitalized on the Galaxy's vulnerabilities, scoring their second goal early in the second half, solidifying their victory.
With only four days until their next match against Colorado Rapids, the Galaxy face a critical juncture in their season. They cannot afford another slip-up if they hope to secure a top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The five-time MLS champions will need to regroup quickly and find a way to translate their possession into goals if they are to revive their playoff hopes.
As they prepare to host Colorado on Wednesday night, the Galaxy must address their offensive inefficiency and tighten their defense to avoid another costly defeat. The clock is ticking for the Galaxy to turn their season around and make a strong push for the playoffs.
