SANDY, Utah – Despite being down a man for most of the match and often overrun, Real Salt Lake managed to salvage a 1-1 draw against FC Dallas on Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Álvaro Saborío made a spectacular individual play to give RSL the lead in the 60th minute, but Kenny Cooper's goal 12 minutes later evened things up for the duration, a result that puts a damper on FCD's playoff hopes. .
With a starting lineup missing regulars Zach Loyd, David Ferreira and Cooper, FC Dallas had a different look about them. The changes nearly paid off early on – in the 10th minute, Jackson saw a headed chance glance off the left post and out.
The complexion of the game changed in the 17th minute when Abdoulie Mansally picked up a red card for late, hard tackle on Jackson, RSL's sixth red card of the season.
The ejection forced Real head coach Jason Kreis' hand as Lovel Palmer subbed in minutes later for Robbie Findley in order to keep a four-man backline, leaving Saborío as the lone forward up top.
WATCH: Cooper levels the match in the second half
From the moment Dallas gained the man advantage, they began attacking, and if not for Nick Rimando's brilliance in the 34th minute, Dallas would have taken control with what was their best chance of the first half. However, the US international 'keeper made a spectacular kick save on Jackson as the Brazilian got the ball eight yards from goal and tried to one-time it on a feed from Fabián Castillo.
RSL came out with more energy to begin the second half, but after an initial flurry from the home side, Dallas again began asserting control with Cooper now in the game to add more numbers up top.
It all changed in the 60th minute when Saborío got on the end of a long, bouncing ball cleared up toward the Dallas area. The Costa Rica international fought off three Dallas defenders and won just enough space to one-time a fierce right-footed shot past a surprised Chris Seitz in the Dallas goal.
Dallas was stunned, but it only took them a couple of minutes to regroup and begin attacking again. In the 71st minute, the visitors made their final substitution and inserted Je-Vaughn Watson, a move that paid off just one minute later.
Watson beat Tony Beltran down the left wing and hit a ball across the middle that Rimando could only parry to Cooper, who took one touch before poking it into the back of the net.
Dallas (10-10-11, 41 points) returns home to host Chicago next Saturday, 7:30PM at Toyota Stadium.
MLSsoccer.com Men of the Match
Rank |
Player |
What We Saw |
1 |
<a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/alvaro-saborio" target="”_blank”">Álvaro Saborío</a> |
Had the thankless task of playing as a lone forward on a 10-man team and acquitted himself well with a brilliantly-taken goal |
2 |
<a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/jackson-goncalves" target="”_blank”">Jackson</a> |
A terror on the wings, especially in first half when he was unlucky not to score two after hitting the post and seeing a point-blank shot denied by Rimando |
3 |
<a href="http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/jair-benitez" target="”_blank”">Jair Benitez</a> |
A tireless worker down Dallas' left flank, giving Tony Beltran all he could deal with and more, supplying key passes and defending well |
