Group Stage - GROUP A - Match 9
Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 7 p.m. CT
Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas
FC DALLAS v LOS ANGELES GALAXY
REFEREE: Kevin Stott (USA)
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Fabio Tovar (USA); Bill Dittmar (USA)
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Colin Tait (USA)
MATCH BACKGROUND
Everything in Group A will come down to the final matchday, with the two MLS clubs meeting in Texas while the two Mexican clubs face off in Colorado. Either team can assure itself of a place in the semifinals with a victory, while a draw will eliminate FC Dallas but not guarantee the Los Angeles Galaxy anything, as it will come down to the final result between CD Guadalajara and CF Pachuca.
FC Dallas
Aggrieved by refereeing decisions in each of the first two games, FC Dallas heads into their final SuperLiga group match needing to defeat the Los Angeles Galaxy, instead of being home and dry. "I thought we deserved to win the game [Saturday]. We should be sitting here with six points leading the group going into Tuesday's game with L.A. Two points from two games, we feel that we deserve a lot more," said FCD head coach Steve Morrow. "We got another controversial decision that led to a penalty kick that got them back in the game. I thought we were good enough to win it. We still had chances at the end to win it, but we didn't do it." Morrow was pleased with the way defensive midfielders Pablo Ricchetti and Marcelo Saragosa controlled the game. "[Pachuca] have a lot of quality players and keep the ball very well. It was important that we were disciplined, especially in the middle of the field," Morrow said. "I felt that both of those guys got in a lot of good tackles, kept their shape well and distributed the ball well."
Los Angeles Galaxy
For the second successive match, the Los Angeles Galaxy started slowly, but this time were unable to recover as they lost to Chivas de Guadalajara. "We let (Chivas) have the run of possession, especially in the first half. I felt with the game against Pachuca we were fortunate to get that first goal and I think that was the difference," said goalkeeper Joe Cannon. "We just kept being Chivas' punching bag and they finally got one. The first 45 minutes of this game set the tone." The Galaxy had some injury issues for the match. David Beckham, while named in the 18-man available roster, was ruled out with an ankle injury. Midfielder Kyle Martino was also scratched because of a groin injury that he aggravated against Pachuca. "Obviously we're disappointed in the way we played. I was actually happy that we sorted out tactically a little bit how to play against them," said Landon Donovan. "With the ball we were awful. If you keep giving the ball away and you're defending over 90 minutes against that team, you're going to lose."
State of play: Group A
After two rounds of games in Group A, nothing is yet decided. CD Guadalajara sits atop the group with four points and will clinch a berth in the semifinals with a victory or a draw - but fourth-place CF Pachuca could also claim a place if they defeat Chivas. Same with Los Angeles Galaxy and FC Dallas, who meet in the other game in the final matchday - a win by either and they will gain a spot in the semifinals. In the case of teams level on points after the end of group play, the first tie-breaker is head-to-head competition between the teams in question, then overall goal differential, then total goals scored. If teams are still tied, then there will be a drawing of lots to determine final placing.
