FC Dallas Defeats LAFC
FRISCO, Texas – FC Dallas (7-1-5) defeated LAFC, 2-1, Saturday night at Toyota Stadium.
Mauro Diaz came free on the right flank and earned a set piece in a dangerous spot for FC Dallas in the 25th minute. Diaz took the kick, hitting a low, sharp pass to Reggie Cannon. The right back struck a first touch shot towards goal that was deflected by an LAFC defender. The ball caromed towards the back post, where Reto Ziegler was first to react, heading a ball past LAFC goalkeeper Tyler Miller to give FCD a 1-0 lead.
The goal was Ziegler’s first since joining FC Dallas in the offseason and the team’s first set piece goal in 2018.
Ziegler’s center back partner, Matt Hedges nearly made it a two-goal lead in the 37th minute. On an FCD corner kick earned by Maxi Urruti, Hedges came free of his marker and headed a ball low towards the back post. Miller came across his line for LAFC and made a diving save to his right side to keep it 1-0.
Ryan Hollingshead picked up the ball at midfield just after halftime and ran 40 yards up field before slipping a pass inside for Roland Lamah. Lamah pushed the ball around a defender, caught up to it on the opposite side, and beat Miller, low to his right side to make it, 2-0.
LAFC pulled a goal back in the 61st minute when Benny Fielhaber split two FCD defenders to find second-half substitute Adama Diomande inside the area. Diomande moved left away from his defender before firing a low shot past FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez to make it, 2-1.
