Galaxy could be most comfortable on counter vs. FC Dallas

Field Level Media|published: Fri 31st July, 22:47 2026

Jul 25, 2026; Stanford, CA, USA; LA Galaxy midfield Marco Reus (18) warms up before the start of the first half against the San Jose Earthquakes at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Galaxy may be the home side Saturday night when they face FC Dallas in Carson, Calif., but don't be surprised if Greg Vanney's group is content with playing on the counterattack.

That hasn't been Vanney's preferred style as a manager across 13 MLS seasons with Toronto FC and then Los Angeles, but it's the one that has led to the most success recently.

Since April 26, the Galaxy (5-7-6, 21 points) are 3-1-2 in matches where they hold less than 50% of possession, and 0-2-1 in games where they have more than 50%.

Perhaps that makes sense with an attack that has been balanced but not particularly explosive. Four LA players have at least four MLS goals, but Joao Klauss and Gabriel Pec lead the squad with five, and Klauss is injured while Pec is no longer with the squad.

"You can manage 90 minutes by being off the ball a little bit more or you can manage 90 minutes by being on the ball a little bit more," Vanney said. "Right now, sometimes we look a little more comfortable off the ball managing the larger stretches of the game. But we'll see how the game plays out."

There is little doubt that Dallas' attack runs through center forward Petar Musa, who will be returning from his second MLS All-Star appearance for the Saturday encounter.

Musa shares the MLS lead with 13 goals in 15 appearances for Dallas (7-5-5, 26 points), including a late go-ahead tally in his return from the World Cup in a 2-2 draw against the host Portland Timbers on July 22.

He is on pace to far exceed his career best of 18 goals during the 2025 season and is averaging an elite 1.01 tallies per 90 minutes, the third-highest rate among players still active in the league. (Hugo Cuypers recently transferred from Chicago to CF Monterrey in Mexico.)

Musa, a Croatian international who scored his first World Cup goal in June against England, let himself savor the reward of the All-Star exhibition, including the Tuesday skills contest and Wednesday friendly between a team of MLS stars and a team of Liga MX talent.

"Everything, especially (Tuesday), the skill challenge was fun," Musa said. "But to meet new players, it's been great. And we are enjoying each moment."

--Field Level Media

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