CARSON, Calif. – There are fast teams in Major League Soccer, and then there is FC Dallas. Take the word of the LA Galaxy’s A.J. DeLaGarza.
The veteran right back should know after surviving Sunday’s hard-earned, 3-2 victory over their Western Conference rival in front of a sellout crowd of 27,000 at StubHub Center. DeLaGarza said the visitors have speed to burn, even more than the Vancouver Whitecaps, another team widely acknowledged to possess more than their share of team speed.
“I would take Dallas over them in a foot race,” he said with a grin.
FC Dallas, boasting impressive speed and quickness in Michael Barrios, Mauro Diaz, Je-Vaughn Watson and Fabian Castillo, among others, gave the defending MLS Cup champions fits. DeLaGarza, at right back, and Robbie Rogers, on the left, got plenty of needed help from the likes of midfielders Sebastian Lletget and Gyasi Zardes, who often dropped back into much-needed coverage.
“Our defenders did an amazing job tonight,” Zardes said. “Give them a lot of credit.”
Castillo, who just returned to action last week after missing time with a leg injury, was credited with five shots. Diaz had two shots and Barrios had three, including FC Dallas’ first goal in the 35th minute, when he slipped behind Rogers deep in Galaxy territory, then headed the ball just over Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts and into the net.
“We knew they had speed in a lot of positions,” central defender Omar Gonzalez said. “The space behind us is what hurts us the most and we were very aware of that.”
“They were looking to go in behind us a lot of times and we were dropping well as a group. They got us one time for the first goal, but other than that, we were pretty good.”
Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena acknowledged that FC Dallas presented quite a challenge with its quickness.
“Castillo and Barrios were dangerous all night,” he said. “At times we did a good job, but those are two really good players. They’re difficult to neutralize.”
“At other times they had the advantage. It was just a good matchup, a good game.”
Right back Dan Gargan, who replaced DeLaGarza in the 80th minute, said the strategy in facing Castillo, Diaz, and their teammates was to keep them in front.
“That’s the most important thing,” he said. “I think you try to get numbers on the ball when you can, get help. Hopefully you can put them in difficult spots and kind of lead them where you want to go.”
“I think communication is really important and we stayed organized. We were tough to break down.”
Galaxy midfielder Sebastian Lletget added, “The outside backs really have to be on top of their games, never switch off. And for me and Gyasi, as wingers, we have to track back and work our butts off and help out. If you don’t, they can punish you.”
“Fortunately we did that tonight.”
