FC Dallas returns home on Saturday night as they face Real Salt Lake in the first of three meetings this season. Dallas (8-5-4) will look to bounce back from a frustrating loss against Sporting KC last weekend, but remains unbeaten in 13-straight games at home – the second-longest streak in club history. Real Salt Lake (8-4-3) faces a short turnaround after a Wednesday night win over New York at home, 2-1.
TEXAS TWO-STOMP
The great state of Texas has been a house of horrors over the years for Real Salt Lake. All-time at Toyota Stadium, RSL has managed just one win in 14 tries (7/13/13), while Dallas has 11 wins over their Utah brethren and the sides have drawn twice. The bad luck isn’t much better in Houston, where Salt Lake picked up their 9th loss to the Dynamo at BBVA Compass Stadium earlier this year, and have only managed two wins in Houston all-time. In 26 games in Texas, RSL’s record is 3-20-3.
KEY PLAYER FOR REAL SALT LAKE
Yura Movsisyan – The striker scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season on Wednesday night in a 2-1 win over the Red Bulls. He now has goals in three-straight games and four of his last five, playing just six minutes in the lone outlier.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Ryan Hollingshead vs. Joao Plata – Plata is tied for the second-most assists in MLS this season, with five helpers to go along with his five goals. He and Movsisyan love to combine down the left side of the pitch, meaning Hollingshead and Walker Zimmerman will have their hands full on Saturday.
Carlos Gruezo vs. Javier Morales –After missing two games on Copa America duty and coming off the bench for the final 30 minutes upon his return in KC, Gruezo looks to return to his usual spot anchoring the defensive midfield for FCD on Saturday.
PROJECTED LINEUP (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Nick Rimando; Defenders: Demar Phillips, Aaron Maund, Justen Glad, Tony Beltran; Midfielders: Luke Mulholland, Javier Morales, John Stertzer; Forwards: Joao Plata, Yura Movsisyan, Juan Manuel Martinez.
KEYS TO THREE POINTS
FC Dallas has a chip on their shoulder this week after a difficult result to swallow last weekend after the Copa America break. Returning to the Frisco Fortress – where they’ve not lost a game in 10 months – and facing a RSL side on short rest and historically flat at Toyota Stadium should be a recipe for three points on Saturday night.
