Galaxy-FC Dallas Preview

Fabian Castillo's production for the league's highest-scoring offense has FC Dallas rolling following a tough stretch.

Injuries have hindered the Los Angeles Galaxy's attack, but good defense has helped them earn results.

Dallas looks to extend its unbeaten streak to four and keep Los Angeles winless for a 12th straight road contest Saturday night.

Castillo got off to a slow start, recording one goal over his first six games. That stretch concluded with Dallas (5-2-2) being outscored 7-1 in back-to-back losses to Portland and Colorado to begin April.

Dallas is 2-0-1 since that skid with Castillo tallying three goals and three assists. He had a goal and two assists in last Friday's 4-1 win over Houston as Dallas took over the MLS scoring lead with 15 goals - eight during its unbeaten run.

The club is 10-0-2 since the beginning of last season when Castillo scores. He's emerged as a potential MVP candidate, tying for the league lead with five assists, and Mauro Diaz has provided a nice complement by scoring in back-to-back games.

Blas Perez, whose four goals tie Castillo for the club lead, will return after serving a one-game suspension for receiving a red card.

Dallas is tied with Vancouver for the Western Conference lead, with Los Angeles sitting three points behind.

"It's so early and we've started off the way we have wanted to as a team, but we haven't achieved what we want to achieve," goaltender Dan Kennedy told the team's official website. "So it's important we keep our foot on the gas keep pushing forward and building momentum.

"In this league, winning games at home is really key so we need to make sure we are a force here."

Dallas is 3-1-1 on its home pitch and welcomes a Galaxy team that is 0-5-6 away from home since technically picking up its last road win Aug. 31 against Chivas USA - the now-defunct club that shared the same stadium.

The Galaxy (3-2-5), who are 0-2-1 in their last three visits to Dallas, haven't won away from their home field since beating Colorado on Aug. 20. They are 0-2-3 on the road this season after playing Real Salt Lake to a scoreless draw Wednesday.

It was the third straight tie for Los Angeles as Juninho failed to convert a penalty kick in stoppage time. The Galaxy's offense has taken a hit with reigning MLS MVP Robbie Keane sitting out the last four with a groin injury.

Forward Edson Buddle (calf) and midfielder Kenney Walker (hamstring) could return to practice next week, and there's a possibility Keane could be back for this contest.

Los Angeles' defense has buckled down, though, allowing three goals during a 2-0-3 unbeaten streak.

"This is going on a string of games where we're playing multiple different people in multiple positions," forward Alan Gordon told the team's official website. "We are obviously missing some key players, we've talked about that. But we continue to get results. And sometimes you need to grind out these tough games."

Los Angeles had a 3-0-1 stretch in the series snapped when Castillo scored in the 88th minute to give Dallas a 2-1 home victory Oct. 12.