The Los Angeles Galaxy have a chance to turn things back around in a positive direction when they travel to Frisco, Texas on Saturday to take on FC Dallas. Dallas is currently the top team in the Western Conference and has a 10-point lead on Los Angeles in the standings. But the Galaxy hold four games in hand and can make up some ground without spending one of those games in hand with a good result on the weekend.
It won't be an easy task for Los Angeles given the sheer number of players missing with injury and international duty. As a result the Galaxy aren't going to be focusing on one particular area of the field to try and exploit simply because they aren't going to have the weapons required for a pinpoint attack.
"Our strength is going to rely on a team effort. Defensively we're going to have to play solid and for a counter," said 'keeper Joe Cannon about his side's chances on the weekend. "We need to try and possess the ball more to alleviate the pressure and maybe capitalize on a set piece."
There will be little mystery in the Galaxy team heading into the game. Frank Yallop has no available tricks up his sleeve, as reinforcements are at least another week away. Goals have been the hardest thing to come by for the Galaxy this season, and his only two options at forward are going to have to get job done on Saturday.
"You wish you had your full complement of players," said Yallop. "But we'll have Nate (Jaqua) and Robbie (Findley) running around up there so I expect some chances. You just hope that one of those guys will bury one."
Goals haven't been as hard to come by in Dallas. The Hoops have the second-best goals-per-game average in the West, second only to Chivas USA. Still, FCD will be without one of the most dangerous forwards in MLS as Carlos Ruiz is with the Guatemalan national team, competing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
"Dallas has had a good start to their season. They have Ruiz missing, which helps us," said Yallop. "He is a player that seems to score against us."
In six career games for Dallas since arriving from the Galaxy, Ruiz has scored three goals. For one, Cannon is happy that there is at least one less threat to his goal this weekend, but is quick to point out that Dallas still has a full complement of attacking options at their disposal.
"Anytime Ruiz isn't in the game it changes things. But you have (Ramon) Nunez who is playing with a lot of confidence and (Kenny) Cooper who is playing with a lot of confidence," said Cannon. "They're a good hard-working team. They have some good weapons even though Ruiz won't be out there."
The Galaxy have been solid on defense, allowing just eight goals in seven games -- three of which came in one game against New England. It's the offensive side of the ball that's been subpar. If the Galaxy can manage to find the back of the net on Saturday against Dallas, they could set the table for a strong run leading into the All-Star break.
Greg Daurio is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
