FC Dallas returns home on Saturday to face Real Salt Lake, presented by Cricket Wireless. FCD has dropped three-straight games for the first time all season and will be looking to get back into the win column against an RSL team that is trying to make a late-playoff push. Dallas is currently fifth in the Western Conference with 38 points and a record of 11-8-5, while Salt Lake is in ninth with 32 points and a record of 8-10-8.
Home Stretch
FCD opens up their final 10 games of the regular season with hopes of returning to the top of the Western Conference by the end of October. Dallas will see RSL twice in the final two months and will also see LA and Vancouver – first and second in the West heading into the weekend – a combined three times. Real Salt Lake have their backs against the wall as they head into their final eight contests – seeing the top five teams in the West four times and one game each against Seattle and San Jose, with whom they figure to be fighting for the final playoff spot. Saturday is essentially a must-win for RSL.
Key Player for Real Salt Lake
Javier Morales – The 35-year-old is on pace for a career year in 2015 with six goals and nine assists in 19 games this season. He’s RSL’s leading scorer and has more than doubled the assists of his next closest teammate. The Argentine has registered four shots in four of his last five contests and as scored in three of them. Morales will be a key piece if RSL hope to be in the playoff picture come November.
Key Matchups
Jesse Gonzalez vs. Nick Rimando – It’s expected to be the young Homegrown coming off the heels of his first MLS appearance against the 16-year MLS veteran between the pipes this weekend. The 20-year-old Gonzalez made one save and conceded a goal in his debut last week in Vancouver. RSL’s most veteran player, Rimando, posted his seventh clean sheet of the season last week against Seattle in an important result for RSL.
Kellyn Acosta vs. Kyle Beckerman – As FC Dallas looks to re-spark their offensive attack, you can bet Acosta will be pressing up into the attack, much like we’ve seen in the last two months. He will likely find himself marked by the USMNT veteran who holds down the defensive midfield for Real Salt Lake.
Projected Lineup
Goalkeeper: Nick Rimando; Defenders: Demar Phillips, Aaron Maund, Jamison Olave, Tony Beltran; Midfielders: Javier Morales, Kyle Bekkerman, Luke Mulholland; Forwards: Joao Plata, Sebastian Jaime, Luis Silva.
Keys to three points
It’s been home, sweet home for the better part of 2015 for FC Dallas, with just two losses at Toyota Stadium on the year. If they can find a way to re-gain the offensive rhythm we’ve seen on multiple occasions in Frisco while maintaining the solid defensive efforts of late, Dallas can send RSL home empty-handed.
