FC Dallas 5, LA Galaxy 1 | 2017 MLS Match Recap

Alicia Rodriguez

FC Dallas needed to win and get some help on Decision Day presented by AT&T to get into the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs, but while they took care of their own business, beating the LA Galaxy 5-1 at Toyota Stadium, the San Jose Earthquakes' win elsewhere means Dallas are out of the playoffs.

The Galaxy opened the scoring just two minutes in, as defender Michael Ciani opened his MLS account with a header off a Romain Alessandrini corner kick. But Dallas tied up the game before halftime, as Roland Lamah latched onto a weak shot from Carlos Gruezo off a broken free kick for the hosts, and beat Clement Diop right in front of goal. Matt Hedges then scored off a Diop save a few minutes later to give Dallas the lead.

Lamah added his second goal just after halftime, while Michael Barrios and Mauro Diaz added goals after that, with the latter coming from the penalty spot after Diop was sent off for tripping Kellyn Acosta.

Dallas on missing playoffs: "The cycle here is done"

Goals

2' - LA - Michael Ciani Watch
37' - DAL - Roland Lamah Watch
41' - DAL - Matt Hedges Watch
49' - DAL - Roland Lamah Watch
68' - DAL - Michael Barrios Watch
68' - DAL - Mauro Diaz (PK) Watch

Three Things

JUST SHORT: Dallas lost out on a playoff berth level on points with the Earthquakes but losing on the first tiebreaker, total wins, with two fewer than San Jose. The failure is going to be a bitter pill to swallow for FC Dallas, who won a Supporters' Shield-U.S. Open Cup double last year and came agonizingly close to qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions League final in April. But with no major silverware and failure to reach the playoffs this year, there will be questions about the roster, including new signings, to come in this season. While they came so close to getting a ticket to the postseason, it's going to be a long offseason for Dallas.
SIGN OF HOPE? While there are bound to be changes for Dallas ahead of next season, one player who had a good game was Lamah. The Belgian had two goals and indirectly set up Hedges' tally. Along with Diaz's performance, with two assists and a goal, there appears to be the midfield pieces to build around for 2018. Add to that the comeback nature of this win, with LA taking a very early lead but Dallas wrestling control of the game and putting it away, and this particular game was a solid performance. Unfortunately for Dallas, they left it too late to actually control their own playoff destiny, and it cost them.
WORST SEASON EVER: The Galaxy were already well out of the playoff reckoning by Sunday, and while they started brightly, defensive and goalkeeping errors consigned them to a miserable season finale and overall their worst season in team history. LA conceded 67 goals on the season, their worst-ever mark, and finish in last place overall in the league for the first time. If Dallas have tough questions in the offseason, the Galaxy have them several times over, and many changes will likely need to take place for them to be contenders in MLS again soon.