LAFC gets by FC Dallas

One the end, one was all LAFC needed on Saturday night.

LAFC kept the offensive pressure on FC Dallas throughout the match, but in the end, LAFC had to settle for one goal. Still the offensive pressure combined with its defense limiting Dallas was all LAFC needed to earn another three points and run its record to 3-0-0 via the 1-0 win at BMO Stadium.

“They (FC Dallas) have a lot of presence, a lot of height,” LAFC head coach Marc Dos Santos said of the challenge of facing FC Dallas. “I think overall, we did a good defending set pieces because it’s a hard team to defend against.”

LAFC’s moment came in the 56th minute via a patient, surgical precision. LAFC slowly brought the ball towards the FC Dallas penalty area, Shane Palencia then played a ball to Stephen Eustáquio inside the penalty area, Eustaquio brought the ball back out, played a ball to Martinez, who after taking a quick touch, fired a left-foted volley from about 28 yard out, keeper Michael Collodi did get a hand on the ball, but not enough to stop the shot from beating him to his far post.

LAFC wound the clock down, but Dallas did have one great look as the match reached its conclusion. Ran Binyamin headed a ball to Herman Johansson, who took a touch to get himself going, then sent a right-footed cross to Petar Musa, and he one-timed a right footed shot that looked like it might catch keeper Hugo Lloris off guard, but an alert Lloris dove to his right to make the save and preserve LAFC’s lead.

“At the start of the season, there was a big emphasis on (keeping) clean sheets, defend properly, that we will win games because I think we’ve got too much quality in the final third.” 

LAFC immediately turned its attention back to CONCACAF Champions Cup play, as they host Alajuense on Tuesday night.