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Starting XI

Brian Rowe; Robbie Rogers, A.J. DeLaGarza, Jelle Van Damme, Dave Romney; Rafael Garcia, Jeff Larentowicz; Mike Magee, Landon Donovan, Raul Mendiola; Ariel Lassiter

Substitutions

Dan Kennedy, Leonardo, Daniel Steres, Baggio Husidic, Emmanuel Boateng, Jose Villarreal, Alan Gordon.

Lineup notes

Decision Day. The LA Galaxy host FC Dallas in their final match of the regular season, and head coach Bruce Arena, who really loves puppies, will roll out a very handsome lineup featuring seven changes from last weekend’s 1-0 win against Houston: Jelle Van Damme, Dave Romney, Rafael Garcia, Jeff Larentowicz, Raul Mendiola, Mike Magee and Ariel Lassiter start in place of Daniel Steres, Ashley Cole, Baggio Husidic, Sebastian Lletget, Giovani dos Santos, Emmanuel Boateng and Alan Gordon.
The LA Galaxy’s rowe-ly good goalkeeper Brian Rowe is set for his 30^th start of the season Sunday in what has been a career year for the former UCLA star. Rowe has locked down the Galaxy’s spot in net, making eight shutouts and earning a 1.11 GAA. In 30 appearances overall this year, Rowe has lost just five times, going 12-5-13.
On the right, Robbie Rogers makes his 21^st appearance of 2016. Since making the move to defense full-time with a start against Chivas USA on June 8, 2014, the Galaxy have gone 31-13-21 in all MLS competitions in which he has appeared, including MLS Cup Playoffs and the 2014 MLS Cup Final.
Big, bald, beautiful, Belgian. Jelle Van Damme is back in the starting XI after a one-game suspension for Jelle card accumulation. Sporting the iconic John Strong hairdo, JVD joined the Galaxy this offseason and has been arguably Major League Soccer’s top defender.
In the middle, A.J. DeLaGarza continues in the center of defense with his third-straight start after he hadn’t featured in the XI since Sept. 3^rd previously. DeLaGarza is versatile, consistent and good at making his daughter a meme. He has made 203 appearances for LA, second only to Landon Donovan on this current squad.
On the left, it’s Decision Dave on Decision Day. Dave Romney will make his eighth start of the season. He is the first-ever player to sign with the Galaxy from LA Galaxy II, and he has been reliable when called upon to step into the lineup.
Alexi Lalas won’t be the only ginger involved in LA-FCD on Sunday as midfielder Jeff Larentowicz will lock down the center of the field in his 17^th start of 2016. Larentowicz has been one of Major League Soccer’s most consistent midfielders since 2005 and has been solid for LA since signing as a free agent this offseason.
Alongside Larentowicz is Rafael Garcia, who will make second start of the season and the seventh start of his career. Rafael Garcia puts in work every day and is ready when called upon. He, too, sports the iconic John Strong hairdo.
Out wide, LA Galaxy Homegrown Player Raul Mendiola gets his fifth start of the season. After making his MLS debut start earlier this year, Mendiola has worked his way into the rotation for the puppy-loving Bruce Arena. He’s played over 300 minutes this season after total just 57 in his first two years with LA.
For the second-straight week, Landon Donovan is back (in the starting lineup). Back again. Landon’s back, tell a friend. Landon Donovan is Major League Soccer’s all-time leader in goals, assists, and seductive water-fountain photos. Sunday will be his 315^th career start in Major League Soccer. All time, he’s got 145 goals and 136 assists, so you have to think he is good at playing soccer.
Two MLS MVPs in the starting lineup! Out wide, Bradley Cooper lookalike and very good MLS player Mike Magee makes his 16^th start of the season. Magee has tallied six goals and four assists this year in limited action.
Son of the goal dog, Roy, the goal puppy Ariel Lassiter makes his second start of the season (and his career) on Sunday and will look to make it a ruff day for FC Dallas’ backline. After a paw-sitive season with Galaxy II last year that saw him earn Golden Boot honors for Los Dos, Lassiter signed a first-team contract with the Galaxy this offseason. On Sunday, he will look to fetch some goals for the Galaxy. Lassiter starts Sunday alongside Landon Donovan, who played against his father Roy Lassiter on Sept. 8, 2001 at Arrowhead Stadium when Lassiter’s 36^th minute goal gave the KC Wizards a 1-0 win over Donovan’s Earthquakes.

Game notes

This year at home, the Galaxy have gone 8-1-7, scoring 32 goals and allowing just 18 for a +14 goal differential.
In the past four years, the Galaxy have gone 43-6-18 at StubHub Center while scoring 149 goals and allowing just 56 (+93 goal differential).
On the year, the Galaxy have earned 51 points from a 12-6-15 record, with 54 goals scored and a +15 goal differential, tied for the best in MLS.
All-time, the Galaxy are 33-23-11 against FC Dallas and 24-5-4 record in matches played at home.
The Galaxy have qualified for MLS Cup Playoffs in 18 of the club’s 21 seasons, earning an all-time record of 41-21-7 while winning a record five MLS Cup trophies.
The Galaxy have also qualified for every MLS Cup Playoffs since 2009, marking eight-straight years.
In the Western Conference Knockout Round of the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, the Galaxy will host Real Salt Lake, Sporting Kansas City, Seattle Sounders FC or Portland Timbers FC, pending results of MLS Decision Day.
Saturday will mark the second time this season that the two sides will square off this season, with Dallas earning a 1-0 win in Texas earlier this month.

Storylines

Will the LA Galaxy build momentum heading into their first playoff match?
Can the Galaxy hold off FC Dallas from winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield at StubHub Center?
How will the adjusted lineup fare for the Galaxy?
What will Landon Donovan do in his first start at StubHub Center since his return?
Will the goal puppy give FC Dallas’ backline a ruff time?
How will the playoffs shake out by the end of the contest Sunday?
Will Rob Stone wear a seersucker suit?
If everything is bigger in Texas, does FCD think that everything in California is smaller?

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