FC Dallas 1 - 2 Galaxy
Final
  for this game

Galaxy aims to clinch playoff berth against FCD

Sep 19, 2014 - 9:14 PM Carson, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Los Angeles Galaxy can clinch a playoff spot on Saturday with a win over fellow contenders FC Dallas at the StubHub Center.

The Galaxy enters the fixture on a seven-game unbeaten streak and just three points back of Seattle for the top spot in the Western Conference, while Dallas resides in fourth place, one point adrift of third-place Real Salt Lake.

Dallas has won five of its last seven games and enters the fixture in good form as well following a 2-1 triumph over Vancouver Whitecaps FC that saw Blas Perez score a goal in each half, including the winner 12 minutes from time to break a 1-1 deadlock.

FCD lost its previous two games, with Perez missing one through suspension and another while on international duty, and head coach Oscar Pareja was certainly pleased to have his top forward back in the fold.

"I am glad for him. He set the path, and the boys follow him," Pareja said of Perez returning to the lineup. "Blas set the tone for this group, in the locker room and off the field also. In the field you saw it - he is a player who gives all what he has, and the game rewarded him with two goals today. We needed him."

Another player who has been important to the success of Dallas in recent weeks is Tesho Akindele, who returned to the starting lineup against Vancouver to assist on one of the goals scored by Perez, giving Akindele six goals and two assists in his last nine matches.

Los Angeles is in good form, but the club will be disappointed not to have taken all three points from its last fixture, a 1-1 draw with San Jose.

Omar Gonzalez scored after 28 minutes for the Galaxy, while Robbie Keane squandered a great chance nine minutes later when he struck the crossbar from the penalty spot. Chris Wondolowski then took advantage and equalized for the Earthquakes in the 66th.

"Going up, 1-0, we usually come out with three points, but Robbie with the missed PK and then us not being tight enough on [Jordan Stewart, who fed the Quakes' goal] and leaving Wondo alone in the back, that was a mistake on Keano, a mistake on the defense, and we end up tying the game," said Gonzalez.

The Galaxy will have the chance to clinch a playoff berth before even taking the field on Saturday if Vancouver beats Portland earlier in the day.






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