FC Dallas head coach Eric Quill believes his team will improve from their previous match as they prepare to face Los Angeles FC in MLS on Saturday.
Dallas comes into the game riding a five-match unbeaten streak, although they recently settled for a 0-0 draw against Austin FC after winning three consecutive games.
This marked only the seventh time this season that they failed to score; despite this, they rank as the second-highest scoring team in the Western Conference.
Currently positioned fourth in the West, they share 44 points with two other teams, and a victory could narrow the gap between them and the leading Vancouver Whitecaps.
Quill is seeking a significant enhancement in the team’s performance, particularly in the attacking phase.
“That wasn’t our usual game plan,” Quill remarked about the draw with Austin. “Everyone expects us to score four goals, but that didn’t happen.”
“It wasn’t due to a lack of effort or chances created.”
“We’ll focus on finishing, boost our confidence, and head into the match against LAFC ready.”
He acknowledged that the players were downcast, as draws don’t thrill them, but he is confident there’s more to come from the squad.
On the opposite side, LAFC sits sixth in the West, trailing behind Dallas by three points after not securing a win in their last two outings.
Following an unexpected 3-1 defeat to Sporting Kansas City, they let a lead slip against the San Jose Earthquakes, conceding a last-minute equalizer.
Although key players Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga are away for international duty, head coach Marc Dos Santos is staying positive.
“We don’t spend the week lamenting those who aren’t available,” he stated.
“Even with seven players out, we prepare as best as we can for the Dallas match with those present.”
Sights set on Saturday pic.twitter.com/LXDHgYDJ8R
— LAFC (@LAFC) September 24, 2026
PLAYERS TO WATCH
FC Dallas – Joaquin Valiente
Joaquin Valiente has tallied 11 assists for Dallas this season, becoming the first player to achieve double-digit assists in a single season for the club since Michael Barrios recorded 15 in 2019.
In the past 15 seasons, only four players from Dallas have achieved 10 or more assists, all hailing from South America (Valiente – Uruguay, Barrios – Colombia, Maximiliano Urruti and Mauro Diaz – Argentina).
Los Angeles FC – Mathieu Choiniere
With Son and Bouanga both on international duty, and after David Martinez (six goals) left in September, the next top scorer for LAFC is Mathieu Choiniere with just two goals. However, he struggled against San Jose, lacking a single shot and only managing one touch in the opponent’s box.
MATCH PREDICTION: FC DALLAS WIN
Dallas has secured four wins out of their 15 regular-season encounters against LAFC (D3 L8), with all victories occurring at home.
At home, they’ve only lost once (W4 D2) to LAFC, allowing multiple goals only once, while scoring two or more goals five times.
They have netted two or more goals in seven of their last ten home matches and four of the last five. Since the beginning of the 2024 season, Dallas has scored two or more goals in 29 home games, trailing only Inter Miami (37) in that period.
Conversely, LAFC has conceded a late goal to San Jose, marking their fourth draw in the last six away games (L2). This season, they have drawn six games on the road and have a total of 13 draws over the last two seasons combined, following a total of 12 draws for the regular-season road matches from 2022-24.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
FC Dallas – 44.1%
Draw – 26.8%
Los Angeles FC – 29.1%
Editorial Opinion: This matchup is crucial for both teams, as Dallas seeks to solidify their spot in the playoffs while LAFC fights to regain momentum after recent struggles. A win for Dallas could shift the balance in the Western Conference, keeping fans engaged and the competition fierce.
Source: www.soccernews.com
