Osaze Urhoghide scored in the 34th minute as FC Dallas outlasted Los Angeles FC 1-0 in a battle of depleted MLS Western Conference teams on Saturday in Frisco, Texas.
Jonathan Sirois had three saves for Dallas (13-6-8, 47 points), which was without three starters competing with their home countries during the MLS international window.
Hugo Lloris had three saves for LAFC (11-9-8, 41 points), who have won just one of their last 10 matches, going 1-4-5 since the start of August.
Los Angeles, which extended its road winless streak to seven (0-3-4), was without eight players, including its top two scorers, Denis Bouanga (14 goals, seven assists) and Son Heung-Min (six goals, 12 assists).
Among the players missing for Dallas was Petar Musa (18 goals, five assists), who entered the weekend as the second-leading scorer in MLS.
With most of its firepower out, LAFC opened the match playing conservatively in a compact configuration, preventing Dallas from generating quality opportunities.
But Joaquin Valiente provided one when he served a corner kick to the right side of the penalty box. Showing his quickness and physicality, Urhoghide powered past a defender to meet the ball and blasted a header into the upper right corner.
It was Urhoghide’s second goal and the 13th assist for set-piece weapon Valiente.
The goal forced Los Angeles to emerge from its defensive posture, and its best chance of the first half came just before the break off a long throw-in.
Nkosi Tafari’s header from the right side of the box was wide of the far post. Eddie Segura was there for a left-footed flick but it too was off the mark.
In the 73rd minute, LAFC looked to have scored an equalizer off a set piece.
But Armindo Sieb, who tallied the apparent goal, was called for making contact with Sirois, who fell to the turf as Yevhen Cheberko sent a corner kick into the box.
Sirois made one of his saves three minutes into stoppage time, catching a right-footed bicycle attempt by Sergi Palencia.
–Field Level Media
