It wouldn’t be unfair to say LAFC have felt broken since their Leagues Cup finals loss several weeks ago. Since then, the team have won just one time in five matches since, but even that win many would admit was far from convincing and fell more into the, better to be lucky than good, category. Coming into this match sitting in third in the West, the team can just as easily find themselves fighting for seventh, as they can the top spot. With just seven matches remaining including this one, they will need to get back to winning, if they want it to be the latter.
Matchday: #DALvLAFC
⏰ 5:30 PM PT
🖥️ @AppleTV #MLSSeasonPass
🎧 @ESPNLosAngeles pic.twitter.com/d0dOGCap70— LAFC (@LAFC) September 21, 2024
Desperation in Dallas
FC Dallas come into tonight with the slimmest of playoff hopes still alive. They are currently in 11th, sitting five points off the final playoff spot. While that isn’t a huge gap, for a team that has only won nine matches all season, it’s very much an uphill climb. Especially as those above them start to improve their point totals. The home side are coming into this one knowing that a loss will all be drive the nail through the coffin of their postseason hopes. Dallas have also only won one match in their last five matches, with two of their losses coming in shootouts. Knowing how detrimental a loss is, expect to see a very defensive Dallas side that will likely be focused, especially early in the match, on keeping LAFC out of goal.
Time to wake up
Seven matches. That’s all that remain the regular season. As we have said before, the chances of LAFC not reaching the postseason are, while not impossible, are incredibly slim. That said, should they continue on the path they are on, there is a very real chance they find themselves tightening up at the end having to claw their way past the playoff line in seventh, or worse. The black & gold are just six points clear of Portland Timbers who sit in eighth place, even with a game in hand, means another few match days of this rough patch and LAFC could be in real trouble. Two big keys for Los Angeles tonight will be, one, getting the ball into the back of the net more. The team have scored just a combined four goals in their last five matches, with two of those coming in a single match. This is not the clinical side we have grown used to. Second, and most importantly, the team can’t afford to turn it off. Lately, there seems to be one or two moments a match where the squad seemingly hit autopilot. That’s when they tend to either make mistakes, or find themselves ball watching, which is where they’ve typically lost points in the end. Playoffs are right around the corner, its time to lock in.
How To Watch
Kickoff for this match is set for 5:30pm PT from Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Tx. The match will be broadcast live and can be streamed on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Those looking for radio can find the broadcast on ESPN LA on 710AM.
Thoughts on the road match? Leave a comment below!