SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, September 20, 2023) – Real Salt Lake (11-11-7, 40 points, 6th West) suffered a 3-1 loss at home Wednesday night, conceding three unanswered Dallas goals following **Chicho Arango**’s first-half score.
With only three regular-season games remaining at America First Field amidst a tightly-contested playoff race, Real Salt Lake looked to maintain its position above the line with a home victory over FC Dallas. The Claret-and-Cobalt were first to threaten in the games’ fourth minute, with **Bryan Oviedo** and **Damir Kreilach** putting back-to-back shots on target, both opportunities pushed away by Dallas’ ‘keeper Maarten Paes.
Throughout the remainder of the first half, the two sides found themselves battling within the midfield trenches, trading possession back and forth with few chances at goal, struggling to create lengthy periods of possession. Real Salt Lake finally broke the stalemate in the 43rd minute, when a flying Arango soared through the air to head in a cross from **Braian Ojeda** to take the 1-0 lead. Arango’s goal marked his fourth in as many games, tying him for the second-longest active goal-scoring streak in RAL’s 19-year history.
Coming out of halftime, Dallas quickly leveled the game, with Paul Arriola scoring the equalizer in the 56th minute. Dallas took the lead in the 62nd minute when **Marcelo Silva** was shown a yellow card inside the 18-yard-box, resulting in a subsequent penalty kick as Jesus Ferreira put into the back of the net. Nine minutes later, Ferreira earned a brace, scoring the team’s third of the night. Real Salt Lake would be unable to climb its way back into the match, resulting in a 3-1 loss at home.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake will remain at America First Field to host Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the Club’s annual Hispanic Heritage Night this Saturday, September 23. Kickoff for the match is set for 7:30 p.m. MT, with tickets available at www.RSL.com/tickets.
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
RSL: Chicho Arango (Braian Ojeda) 43rd minute: From near the sideline boundary, Ojeda launched a cross towards the penalty area where a flying Arango was able to head the ball into the back of the net.
DAL: Paul Arriola (Paxton Pomykal) 56th minute: Pomykal sent a low cross through two defenders to Arriola who was able to hit his right footed shot into the goal.
DAL: Jesus Ferreira (PK) 62nd minute: Dallas was awarded a penalty kick for a foul by Marcelo Silva inside the 18-yard-box which Ferreira tucked underneath the crossbar.
DAL: Jesus Ferreira (Jader Obrian) 71st minute: On the transition Obrian slipped a short pass to Ferreira who placed his shot into the far post, underneath the diving arms of the goalkeeper.
NOTES:
- RSL was without defender Brayan Vera, who received a yellow card in the 13th minute against San Jose Earthquakes and missed the match as a result of caution accumulation.
- Cuban winger Maikel Chang made his 99th regular-season appearance for the Club, putting him one away from reaching 100 games played with Real Salt Lake
- Forward Chicho Arango recorded his fifth league goal, and seventh in 13 games across all competitions since arriving at Real Salt Lake in early July. The goal marked his 98th professionally, now just two away from the coveted centenary. Additionally, his four goals in four games is tied for the second-longest active goal-scoring streak in Club history, just one behind Captain Damir Kreilach, who netted five goals in five games during the 2021 season.
- Real Salt Lake dropped its first result this season when scoring first, the team 11-0-1 prior to tonoght, with the lone draw coming on June 27 at Minnesota.
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Zac MacMath; Bode Hidalgo, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Bryan Oviedo; Jefferson Savarino (Diego Luna 84’), Braian Ojeda, Nelson Palacio (Jasper Löffelsend 69’), Maikel Chang (Andres Gomez 69’); Chicho Arango (Rubio Rubin 84’), Damir Kreilach (Anderson Julio 69’)
Subs not used: Gavin Beavers, Kevon Lambert, Emeka Eneli, Andrew Brody
FC Dallas (4-3-3): Maarten Paes; Marco Farfan, Nkosi Tafari, Ema Twumasi (Sam Junqua 69’), Sebastien Ibeagha; Asier Illarramendi (Facundo Quignon 66’), Liam Fraser, Paxton Pomykal (Jose Martinez 86’); Paul Arriola, Jader Obrian (Dante Sealy 86’), Jesus Ferreira (Jesus Jimenez 79’)
Subs not used: Jimmy Maurer, Tskiki Ntsabeleng, Amet Korca, Eugene Ansah
Stats Summary: RSL / DAL
Shots: 17 / 7
Shots on Goal: 7 / 4
Saves: 1 / 6
Corner Kicks: 11 / 4
Fouls: 12 / 9
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Damir Kreilach (caution) 20’
RSL: Marcelo Silva (caution) 60’
