LA Galaxy v FC Dallas: Vanney slams defensive naivety ahead of rematch

LA Galaxy head coach Greg Vanney criticised his side's inability to hold onto leads ahead of their rematch with FC Dallas.

The two teams met last weekend, with Dallas emerging 2-1 winners despite going behind to Diego Fagundez's opener after just four minutes.

This also came off the back of the Galaxy's 3-2 defeat against Toluca in the Campeones Cup, during which they failed to hold onto the lead on two separate occasions.

Vanney believes his side must improve their mentality when defending, especially when trying to stop crossing situations.

"The issue is that the game is 90 minutes, and inside the game, there are multiple plays that equate into key plays," he said.

"We've talked a lot this year about defending in the box, crosses being more connected to men, being able to be physical with them. With the first goal, we go up 1-0. Then, the first Dallas goal was a crossing situation.

"We lose a mark at the back. They cross to the back post, and they are able to put it right back into the mix.

"It becomes, again, a situation where, in some of these key plays in the course of the game, we do manage the situation and that keeps us in games, of course.

"But then there's just too many moments that we have breakdowns. Sometimes, you can say it's a mentality thing. I think the second goal is a mentality breakdown. I think the first goal is an assignment breakdown.

"You can go through the different games, and you can probably attach different things to each goal."

Dallas, who extended their unbeaten run to eight games with that victory, can secure their spot in the playoffs with another win against the Galaxy.

The visitors have only lost once since snapping a four-game losing streak on July 16.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LA Galaxy – Diego Fagundez

Fagundez scored his sixth goal of the 2025 season last Saturday, the most goals he has scored in a single campaign since netting six in 2022 with Austin FC.

He has now scored six or more goals in eight of his 16 MLS seasons, while also contributing three assists in the current campaign.

FC Dallas – Petar Musa

Musa scored his 18th goal of the season last time out, equalling the most in a single regular campaign by a Dallas player, alongside Jason Kreis (1999), Kenny Cooper (2008) and Jesus Ferreira (2022).

At least one player has scored 19 or more goals in a single regular season for 22 MLS franchises. Could Musa become the first to hit that figure for Dallas?

MATCH PREDICTION – LA GALAXY WIN

Galaxy have won two of their last three regular-season home games, bringing their season total to five wins this year, which have all been at home.

LA have scored multiple goals in all five of those wins, and four of those victories have been by a margin of two or more.

Dallas are unbeaten in their last eight games (won four, drawn four) and have only one loss in their last 10 regular-season matches.

That is the team's longest unbeaten streak in a single regular season since avoiding defeat in each of their final nine matches of the 2023 season.

Dallas have earned 14 wins (drawn two, lost three) in their last 19 meetings across all competitions with the Galaxy, including their recent 2-1 victory. Dallas scored multiple goals in 13 of those matches, including three or more goals on seven occasions.

In their last six league matches, Galaxy have won two, drawn two and lost two. Dallas, meanwhile, have won three and drawn three of their last six.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LA Galaxy – 47.5%

Draw – 26.2%

FC Dallas – 26.4%