FRISCO, Texas – Real Salt Lake (11-5-9, 42 points, West #3), was unable to extend its six-game unbeaten run on Friday night, falling 2-1 to Western Conference foe FC Dallas (12-7-6, 42 points, West #2) at Toyota Stadium.
Real Salt Lake could not overcome two second half goals despite having a man advantage for the final 45 minutes. FC Dallas FW Blas Perez received a second yellow card in the 45th minute to reduce the home side to 10 men at the close of the first half. In spite of being down a man, FCD proved to be the more clinical side, scoring the opening goal in the 50th minute through FCD DF Je-Vaughn Watson and doubling its lead through MF Fabian Castillo in the 74th minute. Real Salt Lake was able to pull one back in stoppage time through FW Olmes Garcia but it proved not enough to complete the comeback.
FC Dallas registered the first chance of the night in the third minute. Dallas MF Victor Ulloa received the ball outside the area on the right side and played a nice pass along the top of the box to open Dallas DF Jair Benitez. Benitez tried his luck from distance, blasting a left-footed shot to the far post that went just wide.
Real Salt Lake had an excellent opportunity to take the lead in the 18th minute. RSL earned a free kick 25 yards out from goal on the right wing. RSL MF Luis Gil took the kick, whipping a ball into the box that RSL FW Robbie Findley managed only to get a slight touch on and the ball deflected off a Dallas defender for a corner kick. RSL FW Joao Plata had a great look off the ensuing corner, receiving a short pass on the left side of the box and firing a shot to the near post that almost beat FCD GK Raul Fernandez.
RSL GK Nick Rimando kept the score line even with a fantastic save in the 22nd minute. Dallas' Castillo showed why he is one of the most dangerous attackers in MLS, working his way into the area and exhibiting some nifty footwork to catch RSL DF Tony Beltran flat-footed at the top of the six yard box. Castillo wound up a shot from close range but Rimando read the attempt well, diving to his left to cobble up the shot.
Rimando came up with another incredible save in the 31st minute. FCD MF Andres Escobar started the play on the counter, playing a through ball for FW Tesho Akindele in behind the back line. Rimando was forced to come off his line to meet the forward at the top of the box, but Akindele was able to dodge the RSL ‘keeper and worked his way around several defenders inside the area to get a clear shot on an open net. But Rimando continued to show why he is one of the best, getting a hand to the shot while retreating at the center of the box to deflect the attempt over the bar.
The game got heated at the end of the first half with Dallas’ Perez receiving a second yellow card for embellishment after a scuffle with RSL DF Chris Schuler – who also received a yellow card for the entanglement. With the second infringement, FC Dallas was reduced to 10 men for the rest of the match.
Despite being a man down, FC Dallas went on to take the lead in the 50th minute off a corner kick. FC Dallas MF Michel took the corner, whipping a ball into the box that found FCD’s Watson open in front of net who then managed to chest the ball into the goal.
RSL continued to create chances despite the deficit, with Findley almost equalizing in the 56th minute. Claret-and-Cobalt MF Luke Mulholland started the play with a free kick, sending a nice ball into the box from 30 yards out that Findley superbly headed on frame, but the attempt was just inches high and smacked off the crossbar.
RSL head coach Jeff Cassar decided to make an offensive substitution a minute later, taking off DF Chris Wingert for FW Olmes Garcia to situate three attackers up top. Dallas went on to take advantage of the vacated left side and doubled its lead in the 74th minute on the counter. FCD rookie Akindele headed down a ball into the path of Castillo who then torched his way down the field past a recovering RSL back line into the box. The Colombian went on to finish a lovely right-footed shot to the far post.
The Claret-and-Cobalt found a consolation goal in the 91st minute. RSL’s Plata took a corner kick that drifted through the 18 yard box that RSL MF Sebastian Velasquez collected on the right side. The Colombian sent a cross back into the area which Garcia attempted to bicycle kick from six yards out. The shot took a bounce in front of goal before slipping into the near post.
The Claret-and-Cobalt continues its road schedule next Saturday, when it heads to California to take on San Jose Earthquakes at 8:30 p.m. MT at Buck Shaw Stadium. The match will be broadcast live on CW30, ESPN 700 AM and 102.3 La Gran D FM.
Real Salt Lake Match Notes – RSL 1–2 DAL
- Today’s matchup between RSL and FC Dallas was the second regular season meeting between the two sides this year. RSL is now 0-1-1 against the Texas club this season, previously drawing FCD 0-0 on May 24 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
- Real Salt Lake’s unbeaten run officially ended at six games tonight. Before the loss in Texas the Claret-and-Cobalt had gone 4-0-2 in its last six MLS matches. RSL’s previous defeat came on July 12, a 1-0 loss at LA Galaxy.
- RSL FW Olmes Garcia provided a late consolation goal in the 91st minute for his third goal of the year. The assist was provided by MF Sebastian Velasquez for his second helper in 2014.
- RSL’s Luis Gil was in the starting XI today for the second-straight match in place of injured MF Javier Morales. The young U.S. international played at the top of the diamond in the Claret-and-Cobalt’s favored 4-1-2-1-2 formation. Gil played atop the diamond last week against Seattle, providing an assist on MF Luke Mulholland’s game-winner. Gil also provided an assist from the CAM position in RSL’s 3-3 draw at San Jose Earthquakes, and scored in RSL’s 1-1 draw at Columbus Crew on June 4, with RSL in a 4-2-3-1 setup. In 2013, the Claret-and-Cobalt went 4-3-2 when Gil filled in for Morales at the top of the diamond, and is now 17-9-4 all-time.
- Real Salt Lake’s regular season all-time record against Dallas is now 9-14-5.
- The Claret-and-Cobalt has continued to struggle in Frisco, posting a 1-10-2 regular season road record against FCD, and recording only 10 goals while conceding 23. RSL has had mixed results on the road this year, now posting an equal 4-4-4 record for a total of 16 points.
- Despite their World Cup departure, Rimando and Beckerman rank first and second, respectively, amongst active MLS players in all-time regular season minutes played (Rimando: 32,823; Beckerman: 28,266), games played (NR: 363; KB: 344) and games started (NR: 363; KB: 315).
REAL SALT LAKE 1–2 FC DALLAS
FRIDAY, AUG. 22, 2014
TOYOTA STADIUM
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 1 1
FC Dallas 0 2 2
Scoring Summary:
DAL – Je-Vaughn Watson (Michel) – 50’
DAL – Fabian Castillo (Tesho Akindele, Michel) – 74’
RSL – Olmes Garcia (Sebastian Velasquez) – 90’ + 1’
Misconduct Summary:
DAL – Blas Perez (Yellow; Unsporting behavior) – 31’
DAL – Michel (Yellow; Foul) – 33’
DAL – Blas Perez (Yellow; Dive) – 45’
RSL – Chris Schuler (Yellow; Unsporting behavior) – 45’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-1-2-1-2): Nick Rimando;, Tony Beltran, Chris Schuler, Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert (Olmes Garcia, 57’); Kyle Beckerman (C), Luke Mulholland (Sebastian Velasquez, 71’), Ned Grabavoy, Luis Gil; Robbie Findley (Devon Sandoval, 80’), Joao Plata
Substitutes not used: Jeff Attinella; Abdoulie Mansally, Carlos Salcedo; Cole Grossman
FC Dallas (4-4-2): Raul Fernandez; Jair Benitez (Kellyn Acosta, 65’), Matt Hedges, Zach Loyd, Je-Vaughn Watson; Fabian Castillo (Peter Luccin, 80’), Michel, Victor Ulloa, Andres Escobar (Ryan Hollingshead, 70’), Blas Perez, Tesho Akindele
Substitutes not used: Richard Sanchez, Danny Garcia, Walter Cabrera, Brian Span
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Assistant Referees: Eric Boria, James Conlee
4th Official: Armando Villarreal
Attendance: 17,622
Weather: Clear and 91 degrees
