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Los Angeles FC are in good shape in the MLS standings, where it’s still too soon to dissect all the possibilities in the Western Conference.

There could be more clarity after Los Angeles plays FC Dallas on Saturday night in Frisco, Texas.

“For now, we have to gather as many points as possible,” LAFC coach Steve Cherundolo said. “If we get the full amount of points in Dallas, that would be great.”

Los Angeles (14-7-7, 49 points), which sits third in the West, is in control of its fate. Dallas (9-13-7, 34 points) is 11th in the West with five matches remaining, meaning the team is nearly in a must-win match this weekend as it tries to climb into a playoff position.

Dallas stumbled in a 3-2 loss Wednesday at Real Salt Lake. Three of the last five matches for Dallas are at home.

“One thing is for sure, we’re going to fight until the end,” Dallas interim coach Peter Luccin said.

Things are not as clear for Los Angeles, which has a match next Wednesday against Sporting Kansas City in the U.S. Open Cup. How much emphasis goes into the contest against Dallas hasn’t been determined.

“I need a little time to think about that,” Cherundolo said. “We have to see how our players recover (from the match against Austin FC).”

Wednesday night’s 1-1 draw with visiting Austin left Los Angeles without a victory in its last four MLS matches (0-2-2).

LAFC forward Denis Bouanga has 17 goals this season, including one in June when the team defeated visiting Dallas 1-0.

Dallas hopes Alan Velasco, who scored his first goal of the season Wednesday, is able to build on that. It was a special night for Velasco, who has played in three matches since returning to action last month from a torn ACL in his left knee sustained in last season’s playoffs.

Dallas also wants to see if Maarten Paes and Show Cafumana, who both returned from international duties to start at Real Salt Lake, can provide sustained impacts.

Dallas is on a three-match winless streak (0-2-1).

–Field Level Media