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Played
July 17, 2010 8:30 PM EDT
Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas
July 17, 2010 8:30 PM EDT
Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas
FC Dallas Vs Real Salt Lake: Head To Head Preview
By Greer Wilson-Chavez and Jeremy Horton
On Form
FC Dallas, by Greer Wilson-Chavez: A brilliant vein of form has seen David Ferreira rise to the top of FCD’s offensive stats list with four goals and four assists. Despite not making the initial All-Star XI, Ferreira will no doubt be focused and ready to lead the Hoops’ offense against a Salt Lake defense that has allowed just four goals in its last 10 league fixtures. If Atiba Harris continues to harass opposing back lines, FCD may have a chance at grabbing all three points.
Real Salt Lake, by Jeremy Horton: Real Salt Lake, a team that's known for - and prides itself on - playing beautiful soccer, showed something encouraging when it beat the Chicago Fire last week at Toyota Park: that it can win an ugly game. Salt Lake scored on a first-half penalty and made it stick for the final 45+ minutes, winning 1-0. The shutout streak is now up to 498 minutes, good enough to be the fourth-longest such streak in MLS history. For all that MLS fans and media want to talk about RSL's offense (and they should), it's getting harder to ignore the quality of the defense.
Off Target
Dallas: One notable exclusion from last weekend’s away trip to Seattle was midfielder Eric Avila. Having not impressed coach Schellas Hyndman enough to make the roster, Avila, should he see any action, will certainly want to make the most of his time on the field. Jeff Cunningham is in a similar situation this week, again needing to prove that he can be an asset to the team. His last goal was the game-winner against D.C. United on May 8.
Salt Lake: Although the defense is keeping opponents off the scoreboard, it's not impenetrable. Honestly, Real were quite lucky to not give up any goals these past few weeks. Nick Rimando has had to be on his A-game, and the posts have bailed RSL out more than once, including twice against the Fire. And Salt Lake's set piece defense, usually one of their strong points, was disastrous last week. Chicago should have punished them on at least a couple of corner kicks.
Tactics
Dallas: A series of promising performances should leave Coach Hyndman with little to change heading into Saturday nights match. The defense looked solid against a confident Seattle offense and should remain the same. Heath Pearce provided a steady performance in the holding midfield role, again proving his versatility. Danger-man Javier Morales will be tough to contain, but if Pearce can shut him down, FCD’s chances of victory will be greater.
Salt Lake: If RSL hope to keep their 10-game unbeaten streak intact, they are going to have to focus on stopping David Ferreira. Ferreira is the real deal, and he's the kind of player who can give Salt Lake fits, given that Kyle Beckerman probably still won't be back. It's too much to ask the more attack-minded Ned Grabavoy (who is filling in for Beckerman) to mind Ferreira all the time, so Will Johnson has to get in on the act. Or it's possible Jason Kreis could sit Grabavoy and give the nod to Jean Alexandre, the young defensive midfielder who had his best MLS showing to date coming off the bench against Chicago.
Intangibles
Dallas: Real Salt Lake hasn’t lost in 10 games. FC Dallas hasn’t lost in 5. One streak will end Saturday night. Don’t expect a tie.
Salt Lake: Random fact of the day: with all the consistently high-quality sides and intimidating stadia in MLS, would you believe that Pizza Hut Park is the venue in which RSL have struggled the most? Yes, Real are a double-facepalm-worthy 0-7-0 all-time in Dallas. Whether it's their own lack of execution there, or Dallas' performance, or the weather, or the hotel they stay at, or whatever, Salt Lake haven't tasted even a shred of success at PHP. Kreis will be eager to get this monkey off the team's back.
Outcome
Dallas: Despite their growing quality, FCD’s troublesome finishing will catch up to them. RSL will continue its winning streak and leave Frisco with three points. Score: 0-2.
Salt Lake: Dallas are clearly on the rise at the moment while RSL are kind of piddling along (if that can be said of a team that hasn't lost since April). But the streak has to come to an end sometime, and this game has all the earmarks of the one that does it. FC Dallas 2-1 Real Salt Lake.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
FC Dallas, by Greer Wilson-Chavez: A brilliant vein of form has seen David Ferreira rise to the top of FCD’s offensive stats list with four goals and four assists. Despite not making the initial All-Star XI, Ferreira will no doubt be focused and ready to lead the Hoops’ offense against a Salt Lake defense that has allowed just four goals in its last 10 league fixtures. If Atiba Harris continues to harass opposing back lines, FCD may have a chance at grabbing all three points.
Real Salt Lake, by Jeremy Horton: Real Salt Lake, a team that's known for - and prides itself on - playing beautiful soccer, showed something encouraging when it beat the Chicago Fire last week at Toyota Park: that it can win an ugly game. Salt Lake scored on a first-half penalty and made it stick for the final 45+ minutes, winning 1-0. The shutout streak is now up to 498 minutes, good enough to be the fourth-longest such streak in MLS history. For all that MLS fans and media want to talk about RSL's offense (and they should), it's getting harder to ignore the quality of the defense.
Off Target
Dallas: One notable exclusion from last weekend’s away trip to Seattle was midfielder Eric Avila. Having not impressed coach Schellas Hyndman enough to make the roster, Avila, should he see any action, will certainly want to make the most of his time on the field. Jeff Cunningham is in a similar situation this week, again needing to prove that he can be an asset to the team. His last goal was the game-winner against D.C. United on May 8.
Salt Lake: Although the defense is keeping opponents off the scoreboard, it's not impenetrable. Honestly, Real were quite lucky to not give up any goals these past few weeks. Nick Rimando has had to be on his A-game, and the posts have bailed RSL out more than once, including twice against the Fire. And Salt Lake's set piece defense, usually one of their strong points, was disastrous last week. Chicago should have punished them on at least a couple of corner kicks.
Tactics
Dallas: A series of promising performances should leave Coach Hyndman with little to change heading into Saturday nights match. The defense looked solid against a confident Seattle offense and should remain the same. Heath Pearce provided a steady performance in the holding midfield role, again proving his versatility. Danger-man Javier Morales will be tough to contain, but if Pearce can shut him down, FCD’s chances of victory will be greater.
Salt Lake: If RSL hope to keep their 10-game unbeaten streak intact, they are going to have to focus on stopping David Ferreira. Ferreira is the real deal, and he's the kind of player who can give Salt Lake fits, given that Kyle Beckerman probably still won't be back. It's too much to ask the more attack-minded Ned Grabavoy (who is filling in for Beckerman) to mind Ferreira all the time, so Will Johnson has to get in on the act. Or it's possible Jason Kreis could sit Grabavoy and give the nod to Jean Alexandre, the young defensive midfielder who had his best MLS showing to date coming off the bench against Chicago.
Intangibles
Dallas: Real Salt Lake hasn’t lost in 10 games. FC Dallas hasn’t lost in 5. One streak will end Saturday night. Don’t expect a tie.
Salt Lake: Random fact of the day: with all the consistently high-quality sides and intimidating stadia in MLS, would you believe that Pizza Hut Park is the venue in which RSL have struggled the most? Yes, Real are a double-facepalm-worthy 0-7-0 all-time in Dallas. Whether it's their own lack of execution there, or Dallas' performance, or the weather, or the hotel they stay at, or whatever, Salt Lake haven't tasted even a shred of success at PHP. Kreis will be eager to get this monkey off the team's back.
Outcome
Dallas: Despite their growing quality, FCD’s troublesome finishing will catch up to them. RSL will continue its winning streak and leave Frisco with three points. Score: 0-2.
Salt Lake: Dallas are clearly on the rise at the moment while RSL are kind of piddling along (if that can be said of a team that hasn't lost since April). But the streak has to come to an end sometime, and this game has all the earmarks of the one that does it. FC Dallas 2-1 Real Salt Lake.
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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FC Dallas 0-2 Real Salt Lake
- 30.77 %
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FC Dallas 0-1 Real Salt Lake
- 15.39 %
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FC Dallas 2-1 Real Salt Lake
- 15.39 %
| USA - Major League Soccer (MLS) | May 26, 2012 | Real Salt Lake 3 - FC Dallas 2 |
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| USA - Major League Soccer (MLS) | Apr 25, 2012 | FC Dallas 1 - Real Salt Lake 1 |
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| USA - Major League Soccer (MLS) | Jul 9, 2011 | Real Salt Lake 2 - FC Dallas 0 |
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| USA - Major League Soccer (MLS) | May 22, 2011 | FC Dallas 0 - Real Salt Lake 0 |
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| USA - Major League Soccer (MLS) | Nov 6, 2010 | Real Salt Lake 1 - FC Dallas 1 |
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FC Dallas
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| May 26, 2012 | Real Salt Lake 3 - FC Dallas 2 | MLS |
| May 23, 2012 | Chicago Fire 2 - FC Dallas 1 | MLS |
| May 19, 2012 | FC Dallas 1 - Philadelphia Union 1 | MLS |
| May 12, 2012 | Columbus Crew 2 - FC Dallas 1 | MLS |
| May 9, 2012 | FC Dallas 0 - Seattle Sounders FC 2 | MLS |
Real Salt Lake
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| May 26, 2012 | Real Salt Lake 3 - FC Dallas 2 | MLS |
| May 12, 2012 | Seattle Sounders FC 0 - Real Salt Lake 1 | MLS |
| May 9, 2012 | Chicago Fire 0 - Real Salt Lake 0 | MLS |
| May 5, 2012 | Real Salt Lake 2 - New England Revolution 1 | MLS |
| Apr 28, 2012 | Real Salt Lake 3 - Toronto FC 2 | MLS |
| 1 | Kevin Hartman | Goalkeeper |
| 5 | Jair Benítez | Defender |
| - | Heath Pearce | Defender |
| 2 | Daniel Hernández | Defender |
| 3 | Ugo Ihemelu | Goalkeeper |
| 20 | Brek Shea | Defender |
| - | M. Rodríguez | Striker |
| 9 | Atiba Harris | Striker |
| 14 | George John | Defender |
| 11 | Dax McCarty | Midfielder |
| 10 | David Arturo Ferreira | Midfielder |
| - | Dario Sala | Goalkeeper |
| 15 | Kyle Davies | Defender |
| 19 | Zach Loyd | Defender |
| 24 | Eric Alexander | Midfielder |
| - | Marvin Chávez | Midfielder |
| 8 | Bruno Guarda | Midfielder |
| - | Jeff Cunningham | Striker |
| 18 | Nick Rimando | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Robbie Russell | Defender |
| 17 | Chris Wingert | Defender |
| 20 | Ned Grabavoy | Midfielder |
| 16 | Fabian Espindola | Striker |
| - | Jean Alexandre | Midfielder |
| 6 | Nat Borchers | Defender |
| 4 | Jamison Olave | Defender |
| 11 | Javier Morales | Midfielder |
| 8 | Will Johnson | Striker |
| 10 | Robbie Findley | Striker |
| 1 | Tim Melia | Goalkeeper |
| - | Rauwshan McKenzie | Defender |
| 19 | Pablo Campos | Striker |
| 15 | Álvaro Saborío | Striker |
| 77 | Andy Williams | Midfielder |
| 18 | Collen Warner | Midfielder |
| 2 | Tony Beltran | Defender |
| David Arturo Ferreira | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 10 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Álvaro Saborío | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 15 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
Results
Times In EST
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kenny Cooper
Striker NY Red Bulls |
11 | 2 |
|
Chris Wondolowski
Striker San Jose Earthquakes |
11 | 1 |
|
Thierry Henry
Striker NY Red Bulls |
9 | 0 |
|
Saer Sene
Striker New England |
7 | 1 |
|
Maicon Santos
Striker D.C. United |
7 | 0 |