FC Dallas, boosted by Santiago Moreno’s addition this season alongside Petar Musa, aims to continue their strong start when they face the Los Angeles Galaxy in Frisco, Texas, on Saturday night.
Moreno spent 4 1/2 successful years with Portland, scoring 20 goals and assisting 40 times in 131 games. However, his high-profile move to Brazilian club Fluminense led to limited playing time, totaling just 18 minutes.
Fluminense has loaned Moreno to Dallas for the rest of the season, with the option to buy at the end of the year. He believes he can help Dallas (3-1-3, 12 points) compete for a top spot in MLS’ Western Conference.
“I’ve felt very good training with the team,” Moreno said. “Their focus on fitness is crucial, so I’m adapting to keep competing.”
Moreno is expected to take on a central playmaker role for Dallas, supporting Musa and Logan Farrington, who together have scored 11 of the team’s 15 goals.
FC Dallas is currently on a four-match unbeaten streak (2-0-2).
On the other hand, the Galaxy (2-3-2, 8 points) are looking to recover from a 3-0 loss to Toluca in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. They needed a three-goal win to progress but fell 7-2 on aggregate.
“We need to respond and deliver,” said Galaxy coach Greg Vanney.
Los Angeles did manage to win their last MLS match, narrowly defeating Austin FC 2-1 on April 11, marking their first win since beating Charlotte FC 3-0 on February 28. The Galaxy lead the league with 51 shots on target but sit mid-table with only 10 goals.
Captain Maya Yoshida expressed frustration when asked if focusing on the league schedule was a positive after their recent loss.
“We have to make it work,” he stated. “There’s no other option.”