First-place FC Dallas visited the last-place Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on Sunday in an attempt to stretch their lead over the Western Conference bottom feeders to a full 16 points.
Things did not work out that well for the conference frontrunners.
Landon Donovan and Santino Quaranta scored first-half goals as the Galaxy handed the Hoops a 2-0 loss.
Still, despite the disparity in the table, the result should not have come as a shock.
"It's going to go right down to the wire. It always does," FC Dallas coach Colin Clarke said. "I don't know why people are so surprised. There is still parity in this league and there is always going to be that. It's always going to be tough and it's always going to go down the last game."
The Hoops dropped their eighth game in eight tries against the Galaxy at The Home Depot Center. A year ago, the Hoops dropped both regular-season encounters, as well as the U.S. Open Cup final here. This time around, the Galaxy delivered another knockout blow despite being at the bottom of the table.
Giving away goals, however, helped the hosts get the result.
"We gave up two crappy goals in the first half," Clarke said. "You come on the road and give up two bad goals, you're not going to win."
The first goal came courtesy of an error between FCD defender Greg Vanney and goalkeeper Dario Sala.
L.A. defender Troy Roberts sent a long ball from the Galaxy's third of the field to the top of the Hoops' penalty area. Donovan beat Vanney to the ball and chipped the ball over Sala.
"It wasn't a good goal to give up," Clarke said. "(It) was a mix up between Greg and Dario. It was a long ball over the top that they don't deal with. Greg can't get his head on it and Dario, there is no need to come if he's not going to get there. It makes it easy for Landon."
Things went from bad to worse near the end of the first half. Santino Quaranta saw a deflected 30-yard shot dip over Sala's head into the back of the net. The Galaxy took a two-goal edge into the break and did not look back.
"It's a throw-in on their half of the field with 30 seconds to go and we don't step up and close down. It shouldn't happen," Clarke said.
Despite four shots on goal in the second half, the Galaxy did well to hold off FC Dallas' attack.
"We could never get anything to swing the momentum back our way. We had some chances and opportunities but we didn't take them," Clarke said.
Carlos Ruiz played his first 90-minute game since July 4. The Guatemalan international recovered from a hamstring injury but did not give FC Dallas a much-needed goal.
"It was Carlos' first full 90 minutes back and I thought he did well," Clarke said. "We got some great balls in to his feet in the box in the first half. We just got unlucky. It just wouldn't roll for us in their box."
FC Dallas striker Kenny Cooper nearly put his club on the board late in the first half. First, he sent a left-footed shot from inside the penalty area wide of the right post. Then, he fanned on a bicycle kick yards from the goal.
The Galaxy's strong effort, though, was not a surprise.
"They're obviously a good team and they gave us a very good game today. Santino has come in and given them a great boost. He's scored two great goals in the last few games," Cooper said. "It doesn't matter who we play. Every team in this league has a lot of quality and good players."
FC Dallas will play a U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal match in Houston on Wednesday. Clarke said Trinidad World Cup goalkeeper Shaka Hislop will start the match in place of Sala.
The regular season, though, continues to be a focus for FC Dallas. While the club holds a four-point edge over Houston in the standings, the Hoops are not taking anything for granted.
"We don't have any eyes on the playoffs. It's still a tight race," Clarke said. "We're looking to get points and win the Supporters' Shield. That's our goal."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
