FC Dallas Wins Against LA

Walker Zimmerman headed in Mauro Diaz’s corner kick late in the first half to help FC Dallas strengthen its pursuit of the Supporters’ Shield with a 1-0 victory over the LA Galaxy on Saturday night in Frisco, Texas.

Dallas (16-8-8, 56 points) snapped its three-match winless run to push its lead in the race for the MLS’ best record back to five points over the Colorado Rapids, New York Red Bulls and New York City FC.

The Rapids have four matches left to play. The other teams in contention have two each.

Brian Rowe made five saves for the Galaxy, who clinched a playoff spot with Colorado’s 1-0 victory over Portland but were also were eliminated from Supporters’ Shield contention.

Los Angeles (11-6-15, 48 points), which began the night in third place in the Western Conference, was outshot 16-7, failed to score for the first time in six matches and suffered consecutive losses for the first time this season.

The same sides will meet again on the final day of the regular season at Los Angeles.

Dallas had arguably its best attacking spell late in the first half, but for a moment it looked like that pressure would go wasted.

Maximiliano Urruti worked himself free nicely in the 36th minute, only to

curl his effort off the face of the right post.

And early in the 39th minute, Barrios’ well-struck effort forced Rowe into a lunging save at his near left post.

But on the ensuing corner kick, Zimmerman started his run into the penalty from near the top of the penalty arc, and worked himself free of Robbie Keane and Jeff Larentowicz.

Then he met Diaz’s in-swinging corner kick near the penalty spot and flicked a header that bounced off the turf and into the top left corner.

With the lead, Dallas still looked the more likely side to score after halftime. Barrios had another effort denied at the right post in the 65th minute. And Ryan Hollingshead struck the post with another header in the 90th minute.