Just three days after LAFC secured a home win against FC Dallas, they rallied to secure a 1-1 road draw against the same opponent — after playing with a man advantage for most of the second half — at Toyota Stadium on Sunday evening.
FC Dallas opened the scoring in the 29th minute, when Dominique Badji made a run down the left flank and found a charging Ryan Hollingshead to put in the finish. Badji had engineered a similar goal just two minutes prior, but he was called offside only after the ball found the back of the net. (LAFC defender Steven Beitashour pulled up with an apparent hamstring injury as Badji readied to shoot, forcing LAFC to sub on ex-US youth international Josh Perez.)
It appeared LAFC found their equalizer chance late in the half when Carlos Vela went down on a Bressan challenge in front of goal. On the ensuing PK, though, FCD 'keeper Jesse Gonzalez guessed right, dove right, and kept Vela off the scoresheet.
Less than five minutes into the second half, Matt Hedges tripped Vela just outside the box as he was bearing down on goal with the ball. Hedges was immediately given a red card. Then, 10 minutes later, Jesus Ferreira got LAFC 'keeper Tyler Miller in isolation outside the box; Miller wrapped an arm around Ferreira to slow him, but only received a yellow card.
After weathering an LAFC onslaught made more potent by coach Bob Bradley subbing on Adama Diomande and Christian Ramirez, FC Dallas finally succumbed thanks to Bressan committing a handball in the box. Though Gonzalez again guessed correctly on Vela's PK and got his fingers to the ball, it wasn't enough to deny the Golden Boot leader the tying goal and the subsequent result.
Goals
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: While LAFC likely feel fortunate to get out of Frisco with a result — their sixth straight — they were a man up for nearly a half and lost out on an opportunity for three points. FC Dallas halted a three-match losing streak with the draw, but played well enough to win in enough key stretches of the match, even with the disadvantage in numbers.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: The red card on Hedges tipped the scales LAFC's way; FC Dallas did their best to deal with the loss of their key center back, but it eventually caught up with them.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Gonzalez saved a PK, nearly saved a second, and had five saves in all, including a highlight-reel tip-to-the-crossbar on a Diego Rossi shot to temporarily preserve the shutout. While he couldn't deliver the win, he did everything he could in a difficult spot.
Next Up
- DAL: Saturday, May 25 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+, TSN in Canada, Texas 21)
- LAFC: Friday, May 24 vs. Montreal Impact (10:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+, TSN, TVAS in Canada, YouTube TV in LA region only, KVMD)
