The LA Galaxy displayed grit and determination on Saturday to get their first victory in Frisco, Texas since 2012. Robbie Keane lead LA out of Toyota Stadium by scoring a brace in the 2-1 comeback victory against FC Dallas.

“The way we played in the first half wasn't good enough. We couldn't keep the ball the way that we like to and, again, we conceded another goal,” Keane said after the match. “We regrouped and got ourselves together and in the second half you saw a certainly different Galaxy team in the way we played, got the ball down quickly into feet. Into [Steven Gerrard's] feet, [Giovani Dos Santos'] feet, my feet, and we caused problems getting that first goal back.”

In the first half Dallas was in charge of the ball and the Galaxy’s defense looked to be a few steps behind. In the 33rd minute in front of a sellout crowd at Toyota Stadium, Dallas took the lead when Michael Barrios capitalized on LA’s slow reacting defense.

Galaxy keeper Donovan Ricketts blasted a high and long ball towards teammate Gyasi Zardes. However, before the U.S. international controlled the incoming pass, FC Dallas defender Ryan Hollingshead soared in the air and headed the ball towards open space.

Barrios got to the ball first and quickly disposed Galaxy center back Omar Gonzalez. The Colombian native quickly flicked the ball over the sliding body of Gonzalez and took off towards the goal.

Defender A.J. DeLaGarza aimed to catch up to the speedy Barrios, and Ricketts attempted to close off the angle but the crafty midfielder had other plans. The speedster quickly changed direction to elude Ricketts and DeLaGarza's slide tackle before tapping the ball into an open net to make it 1-0 in Dallas’s favor.

Dallas kept on the pressure and strived to increase the lead before the break by launching 13 shots in the game. However, LA managed to hold on and limped into the half with just a one goal deficit.

“It was a difficult game. They pressed us," Galaxy manager Bruce Arena said post match. “When we played forward, we needed a guy a little bit stronger to battle for the ball, hold it up a bit, and Giovanni [Dos Santos] got a little more space out wide and helped create some chances.”

Finding a way to get more control of the ball in the second half paid off immediately for the Galaxy. Five minutes into the second half Los Angeles drew even with Irish international Keane heading in his first goal.

The play started with Robbie Rogers and Sebastian Lletget completing a quick give and go on the left hand side of the field. Lletget then sent Rogers down the edge of the box with a direct downfield pass.

Then Rogers, without any hesitation, sent in a high and dipping curling pass right into the center of the box. Keane soared in the air to meet the ball and hammered it with his head into the back of the net to make it 1-1 in the 50th minute.

After that the Galaxy’s energy sky rocketed as they unleashed 10 shots in the game. Four minutes after tying the game Los Angeles took the lead, and once more it was with the Irishman’s head.

Keane was racing down the center of the field with the ball and Dos Santos was approaching from his right. Keane then launched a crisp pass to a Dos Santos in full stride.

The Mexican international received the ball in the right hand side of the penalty box, and had some company with him. A Dallas defender and goalie Dan Kennedy quickly cut off Dos Santos' angle. However, he still took the shot, and the ball was deflected and bounced right in front of him.

With Kennedy still on the ground and Keane crashing the box, the Mexican native quickly centered the ball to the mouth of an open net. The Irish forward was waiting and finished the play with another header to give LA the 2-1 lead at the 54th minute.

After that the Galaxy were forced to hold on as Dallas’s offenses began to push LA’s defense for the rest of the match. In fact Dallas did score a goal three minutes after giving up the lead.

However, center back Matt Hedges was one of three Dallas players who were off sides on the play. Regardless that the defender toe poked the ball into the back of the net, the play was dead.

The Hoops had one more lethal chance of scoring at the 65th minute. However, Ricketts smothered Blas Pérez's close range shot to secure the hard fought 2-1 road victory.

“To be honest, we weren't happy with the first half. We came into the locker room and Bruce [Arena] had a few words with us about competing, and I thought the second half opened up a little bit,” Gonzalez told LA Galaxy Communications after the game. “We had a little bit more time on the ball, a little more time to find people up top and getting the two quick goals were crucial for us to get this win. After that, it was all about holding on. They put a lot of pressure on us.”

The Western Conference has been shaken up due to this result and others. LA is now in first place in the West with 43 points. However, coming back to earn their first victory in three years at Frisco is not the sole reason for them climbing the table.

Sporting Kansas City did the Galaxy a favor by also coming back and defeating the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-3 at Sporting Park on Saturday.

As for Dallas, their movement was a negative one. They came into the match in third place and just a few points away from then first placed-Vancouver. However, after this result and with the Portland Timbers squeaking by Real Salt Lake 1-0 on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium, the Hoops now find themselves in fifth place and in danger of dropping lower.

After the Galaxy survived the match that saw 31 tackles and 21 fouls, they will now be heading towards a week that has two games in store. However, their traveling agent will not need to plan any trips since both games will be at their home, the StubHub Center.

The first game will be a group stage match in the CONCACAF Champions League. They will be hosting Guatemalan powerhouse Comunicaciones F.C. on Tuesday at 7 P.M. Pacific Standard Time. Then they close the week against MLS expansion side, New York City FC on Sunday at 12 P.M. Pacific Standard Time.

As for Dallas they will need to regroup quickly since they will be hitting the road and heading to Canada. The Hoops will be in another showdown on Saturday as they take on Vancouver at BC Palace at 7 P.M. Pacific Standard Time.