As FC Dallas heads to Real Salt Lake for the lone away meeting between the two sides this year, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Javi Mo Comes Home
The storyline all week has been the homecoming of Javier Morales, Real Salt Lake’s all-time assist leader and second-best goal scorer after spending 10 seasons in Utah. After joining FC Dallas in the offseason and at 37 years old,there’s a possibility it could be the Maestro’s last game at Rio Tinto Stadium as a player.
Coming on Late
FC Dallas is the last remaining team in MLS to not score goal in the opening 30 minutes of a match in 2017. Nine of the team’s 10 tallies on the year have come in the second half, with seven coming over the final half hour. FCD ranks first in the league with 1.28 goals per game in the second half. Real Salt Lake has only scored two of their nine goals in the opening half.
Neither FCD nor RSL have allowed a goal between the 31st and 45th minutes this year.
Low-Scoring Affair
In five matches over the previous two seasons, no more than two total goals have been scored between the two sides. Dallas holds the series advantage during that time with a 3-1-1 record and has outscored RSL 5-1. FCD did not score a goal in two trips to Rio Tinto Stadium last year and won the lone away meeting in 2015, 1-0.
Franchise’s 1,000th Assist
FC Dallas needs just four assists to hit 1,000 all-time helpers in MLS play. Tesho Akindele’s equalizer against Portland, assisted by both Maxi Urruti and Hernan Grana, marked the 995th and 996th assists in club history. Only DC United, the LA Galaxy, Columbus Crew SC and the New York Red Bulls have reached the 1,000 assist club.
Early-Season Switch
Real Salt Lake will play their fifth game this weekend under new head coach Mike Petke after relieving Jeff Cassar of his duties on April 5th. RSL won its first two matches under Petke, the club’s first two wins on the year, but has dropped two straight, allowing three goals in each loss.