By DAN KARELL
For the first 80 minutes, the FC Dallas-Real Salt Lake match could have gone either way, with FC Dallas holding a 1-0 lead and RSL pressing hard for an equalizer.
Then, in the 81st, Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Josh Saunders took a bad touch on a pass, allowing FC Dallas midfielder Jackson Goncalves to get a chance on goal, before hitting a deflected strike that crawled into the net, slowly ending RSL’s hopes to win the match.
FC Dallas defeated ten-man Real Salt Lake, 2-0, on Saturday night in FC Dallas Stadium in Dallas.
RSL gave Dallas a stiff test, even with starters Alvaro Saborio, Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman and Tony Beltran away on international duty, but ultimately Dallas did enough to post their third victory of the season.
The stalemate between the two sides ended in the 70th when Dallas midfielder Fabian Castillo dribbled past Lovel Palmer, before releasing a flame-thrower of a shot that seared through the air into the net. Saunders likely never saw it coming.
Following the goal, Salt Lake made two substitutions, bringing in Olmes Garcia and Devon Sandoval to improve the attacking options. Sandoval nearly scored in the 80th minute, if not for a last-ditch tackle from Dallas defender Matt Hedges, and just a minute later, it was Jackson that stunned Jason Kreis’ side, taking advantage of Saunders’ mistake to double the lead.
RSL midfielder Yordany Alvarez was given a red card in the 83rd minute, after earning his second yellow card due to embellishment to deceive the referee.
The red card to Alvarez only two minutes later took the rest of the air out of the Real Salt Lake balloon, as the visitors weren’t able to sustain any sort of attack, due to the sheer numbers of Dallas players behind the ball.
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