Galaxy rally from 2-0 deficit, earn draw with FC Dallas

LA Galaxy overcame an early deficit to tie the match against FC Dallas in the second half.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 8:49am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting a soccer match between LA Galaxy and FC Dallas, with the players and ball broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color.The LA Galaxy's dramatic comeback against FC Dallas is captured in a cubist-inspired illustration that deconstructs the action on the pitch.Frisco Today

The visiting LA Galaxy erased an early 2-0 deficit with a pair of late first-half goals and then held off the FC Dallas offense in the second half to earn a 2-2 draw on Saturday night in Frisco, Texas. Petar Musa scored twice for Dallas to take the MLS goal-scoring lead, but Lucas Sanabria and Joseph Paintsil equalized for the Galaxy before halftime.

Why it matters

The draw keeps both teams in the middle of the Western Conference standings, with FC Dallas still holding a slight edge over LA Galaxy. The comeback performance by the Galaxy shows their resilience and ability to battle back from a multi-goal deficit on the road.

The details

Musa needed just seven minutes to start the scoring for Dallas, capitalizing on a turnover by LA captain Maya Yoshida. Musa added a second goal in the 38th minute to give Dallas a 2-0 lead. But Sanabria pulled one back for the Galaxy in the 43rd minute, and Paintsil equalized just before halftime. Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the second half, with the Galaxy defense stifling the Dallas attack.

  • The match was played on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • Musa scored the opening goal for Dallas in the 7th minute.
  • Musa doubled the Dallas lead in the 38th minute.
  • Sanabria scored for the Galaxy in the 43rd minute.
  • Paintsil equalized for the Galaxy in first-half stoppage time.

The players

Petar Musa

A striker for FC Dallas who scored two goals in the match, taking the MLS goal-scoring lead.

Lucas Sanabria

A midfielder for the LA Galaxy who scored one of the team's two goals in the comeback.

Joseph Paintsil

A forward for the LA Galaxy who scored the equalizing goal in first-half stoppage time.

Maya Yoshida

The captain of the LA Galaxy who made a costly turnover that led to the first Dallas goal.

JT Marcinowski

The goalkeeper for the LA Galaxy who made several saves to keep his team in the match.

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What they’re saying

“We showed a lot of fight to come back from 2-0 down. It was a tough road environment, but the guys kept battling and we were able to get the draw.”

— Greg Vanney, LA Galaxy Head Coach

“We let them back in the game with those two goals before halftime. We had chances to extend the lead, but couldn't capitalize. Disappointing to not get all three points at home.”

— Nico Estevez, FC Dallas Head Coach

What’s next

The Galaxy will look to build on the comeback draw when they host the Seattle Sounders next weekend, while FC Dallas will try to bounce back at home against the Portland Timbers.

The takeaway

This match showcased the resilience and fighting spirit of the LA Galaxy, who refused to give up despite falling behind 2-0 early. The draw keeps both teams in the middle of the Western Conference standings, setting up an intriguing race for playoff positioning in the second half of the MLS season.