FRISCO, Texas – The LA Galaxy didn’t need Landon Donovan or Edson Buddle to record another shutout and stay unbeaten, topping FC Dallas 1-0 at Pizza Put Park on Thursday night.
Mike Magee scored his first goal of the year in the 17th minute on an easy finish. Veteran midfielder Chris Klein alertly noticed forward Tristan Bowen was onside and quickly knocked a diagonal ball in his direction.
FCD defenders Ugo Ihemelu and George John were looking for an offside call but John appeared to keep Bowen onside. The 18-year-old, who made his first MLS start, then dashed up the left flank and passed to a streaking Magee, who had an easy tap-in past Kevin Hartman.
Dallas had only two chances of note in the opening frame. In the fifth minute, Jeff Cunningham had an opportunity for his fifth goal of the year but saw his effort stopped by Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts. And about six minutes before the break, FCD’s Atiba Harris had a chance on the right flank but shot it high over the FCD goal.
The early stages of the second half produced little offense for either side. In the 57th minute, FCD displayed some great combination play with Cunningham and Dax McCarty delivering a nice exchange in the visiting third.
Cunningham dribbled in but saw his chance snuffed out by Ricketts. The ensuing deflection fell to the feet of Brek Shea, who had his shot deflected. Ricketts eventually corralled the ball to end the threat.
In the 63rd minute, FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman had seen enough and pulled Cunningham in favor of the fresher legs of Eric Avila. With the attack still very sluggish, Hyndman made another change in the 72nd, bringing off Shea for the speedy Marvin Chavez.
Six minutes later, Hyndman made his final change, taking rookie right back Zach Loyd out for 18-year-old midfielder Bryan Leyva, who was making his MLS debut.
But Gregg Berhalter, Omar Gonzalez and the rest of the Galaxy offered few chances and held on for the result. With the win, LA move to 8-0-2 on the season and set an MLS record for fewest goals allowed (two) over 10 games to open a season.
Dallas, meanwhile, fall to 2-2-5 and saw their 12-game home unbeaten streak snapped. Before Thursday night’s setback, FCD’s last loss at home was nearly a year ago when Hyndman’s club fell 3-1 to in-state rival Houston.
Scoring Summary:
LA -- Mike Magee 1 (Tristan Bowen 1, Chris Klein 1) 17
Misconduct Summary:
DAL -- Ugo Ihemelu (caution; Reckless Tackle) 28
LA -- Mike Magee (caution; Dissent) 31
LA -- Michael Stephens (caution; Reckless Tackle) 35
DAL -- Brek Shea (caution; Dissent) 42
Lineups
Los Angeles Galaxy -- Donovan Ricketts, A.J. DeLaGarza, Omar
Gonzalez, Gregg Berhalter, Todd Dunivant, Chris Klein (Sean Franklin
70), Christopher Birchall, Juninho, Michael Stephens, Tristan Bowen
(Clint Mathis 65), Mike Magee (Jovan Kirovski 74).
FC Dallas -- Kevin Hartman, Zach Loyd (Bryan Leyva 77), George John, Ugo Ihemelu, Jair Benitez, Atiba Harris, Daniel Hernandez, Dax McCarty, Brek Shea
(Marvin Chavez 72), Jeff Cunningham (Eric Avila 63), David Ferreira.
Referee: Abiodun Okulaja
Referee's Assistants: Peter Balciunas; Adam Garner
4th Official: Chris Penso
Attendance: 10,947
Time of Game: 1:53
Weather: Clear and 81 degrees
