LA Galaxy 0, FC Dallas 0 | 2016 MLS Match Recap

Franco Panizo

Two titles down, one to go.

FC Dallas added more hardware to their trophy case on Sunday by picking up the Supporters' Shield after playing the LA Galaxy to a scoreless draw at StubHub Center in Carson, California. Dallas, who claimed the 2016 US Open Cup crown last month, finished the regular season with 60 points via a 17-8-9 record to capture their first Supporters' Shield. As a result, they have homefield advantage throughout the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs.

Neither team was overly dominant or that creative in the final third, but they each came close to finding the breakthrough. Atiba Harris had a golden first-half chance from inside six yards that he smacked off the near post, and Landon Donovan had a snap header bounce inches past the left side of FC Dallas' goal just before the hour-mark.

Box Score

Three Things

JUST ENOUGH: It was not gorgeous by any stretch of the imagination, but FC Dallas did what was necessary to get the result they needed to claim their first Supporters' Shield. There are still questions as to how Dallas will play without Mauro Diaz, especially in games in which they cannot just settle for a draw, but those will have to be answered on another day. Right now, it is celebration time in Dallas.
DAMME IMPRESSIVE: While FC Dallas will get kudos for getting a shutout on the road, the LA Galaxy also deserve praise for not allowing an at-strength Dallas team to get on the board while fielding a reserve-filled side themselves. One player who especially stood out for LA was center back Jelle Van Damme, who made a number of timely interventions and served as a leader during his 90 minutes on the field.
STALEMATE: Expect both these teams to play much different once the postseason rolls around. Both the Galaxy and FC Dallas were not overly aggressive in pushing numbers forward and did not take many risks in the attack. That should change as the intensity and pressure ramp up in the playoffs.