By JOSE M. ROMERO
Sunday's FC Dallas-Real Salt Lake match might as well have ended in the 83rd minute, when lightning and a torrential downpour forced a lengthy weather delay at Pizza Hut Park in suburban Dallas.
There was no score then, and there would be no score over the final minutes of the match after it resumed about an hour and 40 minutes later.
The two MLS Western Conference titans played to a scoreless draw, leaving a major logjam in the top half of the conference standings. FC Dallas took over second place with 18 points after the one it picked up from Sunday's draw, but RSL and two other teams, Seattle and Portland, sit tied for third at 17 points with the weekend's action complete.
FC Dallas generated most of the few scoring chances in a game marked by defensive performances. Midfielder Daniel Hernandez tried a low strike past a four-man wall on a free kick that went wide left in the 59th minute. Hernandez and RSL defender Jamison Olave exchanged some angry words in the 73rd minute after it appeared Olave took a dive on a wild leg swing from FCD's Brek Shea.
In the 82nd minute, substitute Ruben Luna took a pass from Shea and shot it over the goal. By then the rain was coming down hard, and the game was stopped due to lightning.
When it resumed, Kyle Beckerman had the best shot for a goal, but the Real Salt Lake midfielder's free kick from long range curled into FC Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman's arms in the 88th minute. RSL was fortunate to not give up a penalty kick in the 90th minute after Luna went down in the box after getting tangled wih Olave.
The first half was very evenly matched, as both teams made forays into each other's territory but came away empty. Real Salt Lake, wearing its Victory Gold kits for the fourth time ever, was kept in check in large part due to FCD's center backs, George John and Ugo Ihemelu. In fact, the only recorded shot on goal for RSL in the half came from midfielder Will Johnson, who blasted a shot from well beyond the 18-yard box that Hartman saved.
Real Salt Lake's Alvaro Saborio had a goal disallowed by an offsides call, and despite the one shot, RSL dominated in possession at halftime.
FC Dallas had four first-half shots on goal. The best came in the 24th minute when midfielder Marvin Chavez did some nifty dribbling before passing to John in the middle. John's shot looked to be going in but Nick Rimando got to it just in time for a save.
Chavez and Fabian Castillo spearheaded FCD's attack and played well. Several balls from both teams were sent across the 6-yard box to no avail, including one from Shea in the 50th minute.
Three minutes earlier, Rimando tipped a shot by Andrew Jacobson over the goal.
Man the “lighting” at Pizza Hut park must be really bad if it keeps delaying games! Seriously though, how do like 10 posters in a row not know how to spell the word LightNing?
I was there and yes the sky was angry. Just seconds after they stopped the match because of lightning you saw this huge lightning bolt and it sounded as a few canons went of at the same time inside the stadium…crazy Texas weather!
RSL had their game vs LA last season delayed for lighting. That was a blast.
Oh, just to let you all know. If it is raining in Texas 9 out of 10 times there is lighting as well. So it is just as easy to say rain delay rather than lighting delay. Lighting delay would just confuse some folks who have no idea what lighting is.
lol
Dallas should just start there games 10 minutes earlier.
You could hear thunder on the broadcast. That’s Dallas in Spring. Or Fall. Or Summer, sometimes.
Great save by Rimando, unfortunately.
It should be noted that RSL has three games in hand over Dallas and–I believe–FIVE over LAG, so those points are still out there for them.
uh…there was lighting all around even before they suspended the game.
Don’t often hear of a match postponed due to rain. Lightening, yes, rain? I thought we soccer players played in rain, even if it meant kicking long balls that plop still and no possibility of dribbling. I once played a game on ice so thick cleats wouldn’t break it. We all put on our runing shoes if we brought any, it was pretty ridiculous. Game ended like 4-2 but it was a completely different sort of game, pretty hilarious.