Patrickson Delgado wants FC Dallas to take momentum from their 3-1 victory over Los Angeles FC as they aim to push for the playoffs.

Dallas face Orlando City at home on Saturday, and while the visitors look well set to go on and clinch a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, it is a different matter for the hosts in the West.

Minnesota United are five points clear of Dallas in the race for a playoff spot, with just four regular-season games remaining.

But midfielder Delgado is hopeful Dallas can get over the line.

"This victory will help us gain more momentum for the final games of the season," he said after the win over LAFC, as reported by Big D Soccer.

"Our goal is to make the playoffs, and we will not give up. We will play every game like a final and finish the season strong."

Alan Velasco, who has just returned from injury, impressed against LAFC, and interim coach Peter Luccin was thrilled with his display.

"We can see what talent Velasco can do on the field, we know that," he said.

"When we are putting all those quality players together, this is what happens. We scored three goals, we could've scored one or two more.

"It's good that those two players are coming back but at the same time, we need to manage our emotions. Everyone wants to see Alan play but he's coming back from a very serious injury, so we need to manage him well."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

FC Dallas - Logan Farrington

Farrington came off the bench to record a goal and an assist in Dallas' win over LAFC, his second game with a goal and an assist as a sub this season. Farrington is one of six players in MLS history to record multiple games with a goal and an assist off the bench in a single season.

Orlando City - Facundo Torres

Torres has contributed to at least one goal in four straight regular-season appearances, the third such streak of his career, including a five-match run in 2022-23.

He is the first Orlando City player to have three streaks of four or more consecutive games with a goal contribution.

MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

Dallas have lost only one of seven all-time meetings with Orlando (W4 D2), though this will be the first match between the sides since May 2022.

Orlando have scored only two goals in the seven previous meetings between these teams.

Dallas have won eight of their last 11 regular season home matches (D1 L2) dating back to late April. Dallas have scored multiple goals in 10 of those 11 matches, netting three or more in five of them.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Dallas - 35.4%

Orlando City - 38.5%

Draw - 26%

Denis Bouanga believes Los Angeles FC got a much-needed wake-up call when they lost to San Jose Earthquakes, as they prepare to face FC Dallas on Saturday.

LAFC lost 3-1 to the Earthquakes on May 5, but have since won all six of their games in all competitions, keeping a clean sheet in each of the last five.

They extended that run with a 2-0 win over Minnesota United at home on Wednesday and are now just three points behind Western Conference leaders Real Salt Lake in third.

Bouanga has praised the response from LAFC, saying, "I think that losing to San Jose was a good wake-up call for us.

"We are LAFC but every club against us wants to win. The MLS is starting to have good players in good teams. We also have good players, but that was a big wake-up call.

"We've come back with a simple base - the forwards are scoring; the defenders are defending well and that's why we've had six wins and five clean sheets. I'm really happy, and I think everybody else is about the results."

Dallas sit in 12th with just 13 points following a three-match winless streak, including a 3-1 loss on the East Coast against LA Galaxy in midweek.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

LAFC – Denis Bouanga

Since May 11, all eight goals scored by LAFC in MLS play have been scored or assisted by either Denis Bouanga (three goals, three assists) or Mateusz Bogusz (three goals, one assist).

The only MLS players who had at least three goals and three assists in the month of May were Bouanga and Cincinnati’s Luciano Acosta.

Dallas – Patrickson Delgado

All three of Delgado’s goals this season in all competitions have come in Dallas' last three matches.

The Ecuadorian is one of five MLS players currently under the age of 21 with at least three goals in 2024 and one of two of those from outside the United States (also Venezuela’s Kevin Kelsy).

MATCH PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES FC WIN

The home side won all four meetings between Los Angeles and Dallas over the previous two seasons. LAFC has never lost at home against Dallas (W4 D1), winning the last four in a row after drawing the first meeting in 2018.

Indeed, Los Angeles have won six straight matches in all competitions with the last five all being shutouts. LAFC have one longer winning run in team history (seven straight in July-August 2022), but the five straight clean sheets make for the longest shutout streak by the club.

Meanwhile, Dallas suffered a 3-1 defeat to LA Galaxy on Wednesday, their second straight game allowing three goals and the fourth time doing so in league play this season. Over the previous two seasons, the club allowed three or more goals in four total league games (twice in both 2022 and 2023).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

LAFC – 57.2%

Draw – 22.2%

Dallas – 20.6%