Carson, CA (My Sportsbook) - FC Dallas is on the road, has no realistic shot at the playoffs and is basically just playing for next season.
The Los Angeles Galaxy are at home, have lost just one of their last 10 Major League Soccer fixtures, and are battling for the top spot in the Western Conference table.
Sounds like a trap game for the Galaxy when they host the Hoops on Saturday night at The Home Depot Center.
Dallas (6-11-6) is actually coming off a 2-2 draw vs. D.C. United in its last league fixture.
"It was a bit of a roller coaster, I think. We tried to catch D.C. on a bit of a recovery day - they just played the other day in an emotional game - so we came out pretty hard and scored an early goal and then Jeff [Cunningham] had a second chance but it hit off the post," Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman said. "I thought that it would have been a difference-maker."
Dallas could also have a major new addition joining the team this weekend in U.S. national team defender Heath Pierce, who it acquired with the top spot in the allocation rankings on Friday.
"Heath is a high quality player who can play a lot of different positions, and we are very excited to welcome him to the club," Hyndman said. "We are really focusing on making our team stronger defensively, and Heath is a hard worker who can help us in that regard."
The Galaxy (9-4-11), on the other hand, are just trying to keep their current form going en route to their first playoff berth in three seasons. They are coming off a 1-0 victory over Chivas USA last weekend in which David Beckham scored his first goal of the season.
"He's a very experienced and talented player," L.A. coach Bruce Arena said of Beckham. "He has to find different places on the field to be effective. [Chivas USA midfielders Jesse] Marsch and [Paulo] Nagamura did a good job trying to get around David when he was sitting in a central position. I prefer him going wide or going high instead of coming back to get the ball, and we saw a lot more of that in the second half."
With the most recent result, the Galaxy have allowed just one goal in their last five league fixtures, including four-straight clean sheets.
"The biggest key of our turnaround is the team focus on defense, and now we have three shutouts in a row," L.A. defender Todd Dunivant said. "It's always a work in progress. And again, [goalkeeper] Donovan [Ricketts] made big saves whenever we need him, and for the most part we kept them out off our ending, and limited their chances, and I think that was the key of our success."
L.A. will be without defenders Sean Franklin and Julian Valentin, while midfielders Chris Birchall and Dema Kovalenko, and forwards Edson Buddle and Alecko Eskandarian are questionable with injuries.
Dallas will be without midfielder Alvaro Sanchez, while defenders Anthony Wallace and Kyle Davies, and midfielder Jair Benitez are questionable with injuries. Also, Dallas will be without Daniel Torres because of suspension.
