FC Dallas Earns Supporters Shield

via The Sports Xchange
FC Dallas captured its first ever Supporters’ Shield for MLS’s best overall record as it battled to a scoreless draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. in the regular-season finale for both teams.
FC Dallas (17-8-9, 60 points), which was denied the Shield last season by the New York Red Bulls on goal differential on the season’s final day, needed a win or a draw against the Galaxy or a draw or loss from second-place Colorado in its game versus Houston on Decision Day to win the Shield. It got a little of each as both teams garnered draws in their respective matches.
Los Angeles, which has been decimated with key injuries this season, was already assured the third-place finish in the Western Conference and the home game versus Real Salt Lake in the playoffs’ knockout round either Wednesday or Thursday that accompanies that standing.
The Galaxy (12-6-16, 52 points), perhaps looking ahead to the mid-week postseason game, sent out a lineup that featured seven players that are usually reserves, taking the attitude of playing a glorified friendly against an FC Dallas team that still had plenty to play for.
Dallas outshot Los Angeles 13-5 in the match despite playing ultra-conservatively in the final 30 minutes once team leaders learned that Colorado had rallied to tie its match against Houston. The Galaxy also played not to lose, possessing the ball with a 66-34 percent advantage but managing just one shot on goal.
FC Dallas’ Atiba Harris had the match’s best early scoring chance, bouncing a right-footed shot off the right post off a Kellyn Acosta corner kick in the ninth minute.
FC Dallas outshot the Galaxy 9-2 in the first half but none of the shots for either team was on goal. Dallas had four corner kicks to none for Los Angeles while the Galaxy outpossessed FC Dallas 66-34 percent in the first 45-plus minutes.
Los Angeles was one of the league’s toughest teams to beat at home, forging an 8-1-8 record this season. The Galaxy are undefeated at home over the last nine meetings versus FC Dallas in league play, dating back to the start of the 2010 season, going 7-0-2 in that time.