LOS ANGELES (Saturday, March 4, 2023) – Playing in their 2023 MLS Regular-Season opener, the LA Galaxy fell 3-1 on the road to FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Saturday night.
LA Galaxy In MLS Season-Opening Matches
In 28 all-time MLS regular-season openers, the LA Galaxy hold a 15-9-4 record. In eight all-time MLS regular-season openers played on the road, LA holds a 2-3-3 record.
LA Galaxy Against FC Dallas
Saturday’s match marked the 90th all-time meeting across all competitions between the LA Galaxy and FC Dallas, with LA leading the series 41-36-13. Against Dallas, LA holds a 35-32-13 record in league play, a 2-1-0 record in the U.S. Open Cup and a 4-3-0 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Galaxy are winless in their last seven regular-season road matches played against Dallas (0-7-0), having last won at Toyota Stadium on Aug. 15, 2015. In LA’s last seven regular-season matches played against Dallas dating back to Aug. 14, 2019, the Galaxy hold a 2-4-1 record.
LA Galaxy Debuts
Five players made their MLS regular-season debuts for the LA Galaxy. Memo Rodríguez started and played 65 minutes in his debut for the Galaxy, while Chris Mavinga started and played 77 minutes in his debut for the club. Making their Galaxy debuts as substitutes were midfielder Tyler Boyd, who logged 19 minutes, forward Preston Judd, who played 13 minutes, and homegrown defender Jalen Neal, who recorded 25 minutes of action.
Goal-Scoring Plays
LA – Dejan Joveljić (Kelvin Leerdam, Efraín Álvarez), 35th minute: Working down the right flank, Efraín Álvarez slipped Kelvin Leerdam down the right side of the penalty area. Leerdam delivered a hard, low pass into the six-yard box that Dejan Joveljić finished from close range.
FCD – Alan Velasco (Paul Arriola), 45+2nd minute: Alan Velasco slotted in Paul Arriola’s pass from the right side of the penalty area from close range.
FCD – Jesus Ferreira (Paul Arriola, Alan Velasco), 56th minute: Paul Arriola’s headed pass into the box found the feet of Jesus Ferreira, who finished from just outside the six-yard box.
FCD – Jesus Ferreira (Paxton Pomykal, Ema Twumasi), 64th minute: Paxton Pomykal slipped a pass behind the Galaxy defense to Jesus Ferreira, whose low shot from the right side of the box was slotted in at the far post.
Postgame Notes
- In 28 all-time MLS regular-season openers, the LA Galaxy hold a 15-9-4 record. In eight all-time MLS regular-season openers played on the road, LA holds a 2-3-3 record.
- Saturday’s match marked the 90th all-time meeting across all competitions between the LA Galaxy and FC Dallas, with LA leading the series 41-36-13. Against Dallas, LA holds a 35-32-13 record in league play, a 2-1-0 record in the U.S. Open Cup and a 4-3-0 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
- The Galaxy are winless in their last seven regular-season road matches played against Dallas (0-7-0), having last won at Toyota Stadium on Aug. 15, 2015.
- In LA’s last seven regular-season matches played against Dallas dating back to Aug. 14, 2019, the Galaxy hold a 2-4-1 record.
- In his first start of the season, Dejan Joveljić tallied his first goal of the 2023 campaign in the first half.
- In his 92nd career appearance (44 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy, Efraín Álvarez tallied his 15th career assist in the match against Dallas.
- The goal marked Joveljić’s 18th career goal in 53 appearances (18 starts) across all competitions for the Galaxy.
- Gastón Brugman finished the match with a game-high 88 passes attempted (89.8% pass accuracy).
- Riqui Puig took a team-high three shots and finished the match second on the team with 64 attempted passes (90.6% pass accuracy).
- Kelvin Leerdam logged his second career regular-season assist in 11 appearances (6 starts) for the Galaxy in the match against Dallas.
- Mark Delgado recorded a team-high six tackles.
- Five players made their MLS regular-season debuts for the LA Galaxy in the match against Dallas. Memo Rodríguez started and played 65 minutes in his debut for the Galaxy, while Chris Mavinga started and played 77 minutes in his debut for the club. Making their Galaxy debuts as substitutes were midfielder Tyler Boyd, who logged 19 minutes, forward Preston Judd, who played 13 minutes, and homegrown defender Jalen Neal, who recorded 25 minutes of action.
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Next Game
*Up next, the LA Galaxy travel to face Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday, March 11. The match on March 11 kicks off at 5:30 p.m. PT and will be broadcasted live on MLS Season Pass.
