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Played
October 16, 2010 9:05 PM EDT
Rio Tinto Stadium — Sandy, Utah
Referee: B. Toledo
Attendance: 20236
October 16, 2010 9:05 PM EDT
Rio Tinto Stadium — Sandy, Utah
Referee: B. Toledo
Attendance: 20236
Real Salt Lake - FC Dallas: Head To Head Preview
By Jeremy Horton and Greer Wilson-Chavez
On Form
Real Salt Lake: The defense continues to be scintillating, this time holding a stacked New York team to only one shot on goal to earn yet another shutout in a road game. Appreciators of history, take note: you are watching the best defense MLS has ever seen. Consider that with two games to go, Salt Lake are on pace to allow the fewest goals ever for a single season - and their cushion right now is a whopping seven goals. RSL have earned a clean sheet in no less than half of their games this season, a fact that is simply stunning.
FC Dallas: George John, Ugo Ihemelu and captain Daniel Hernandez are all back in practice after being out injured. John made a short appearance against Colorado last weekend, but came off with a tight hamstring. Ihemelu went the full 90 in a reserve team match played Sunday morning, which is good news. Hernandez hasn't seen action since Sept. 16, nearly a month ago, but is now back in training and is expected to be ready to go by the time playoffs start.
This is all bodes well for Dallas, as they have been noticeably weaker since losing so many starters to injury. Assuming these three, as well as keeper Kevin Hartman (who's progress is unknown), are at 100% for the post-season, the Hoops will have some very important fresh legs on the field, a definite advantage.
Off Target
Salt Lake: Despite the offense looking a bit more like they did in the "good old days" last weekend, the ability to put balls in the net is still eluding this team. The finishing still isn't there and the sheer quantity of chances we've grown accustomed to seeing has diminished. This, combined with the solid defense, has turned RSL into a team that's very prone to drawing matches. That may be fine when you're coasting through the end of the MLS season, but it won't cut it during the playoffs when you have to win to advance. Real won't be keen to rely on more shootout drama in order to advance through the playoffs, so the defending champs will need to get their scoring touch back if they hope to repeat.
Dallas: It would be a shame if FCD hit a slump just as the season winds down. With two games left to go, two very important games mind you, Dallas have little room for error. Their 2-2 draw against the Rapids showed just how bad they need Hernandez back on the field. Jackson Goncalves just doesn't seem fit for the middle of the park, and Dax McCarty is still trying to get his sharpness back. Rookie Eric Alexander continues to be solid, but he needs a partner that can provide the same consistency.
Tactics
Salt Lake: With the team mostly healthy, don't expect many changes in personnel from what we're used to seeing from Salt Lake. But expect to see heavy emphasis on midfield defense as RSL will be keyed in on disrupting David Ferreira. Ferreira's tendency to roam all over, looking for soft spots in the defense, means RSL will need to keep good track of him and not let Kyle Beckerman get sucked out of position trying to cover.
Dallas: The question this week is whether Ihemelu will get back in the lineup. Zach Loyd has been nothing short of excellent as a replacement for the veteran defender, and would certainly be a candidate for Rookie of the Year if he'd been playing regularly all season. Trainers have cleared Ihemelu for action, but with a warning to avoid heading the ball. It seems unlikely that coach Schellas Hyndman will return Ihemelu to the starting XI as long as that disclaimer is attached. Loyd will most likely line up alongside John, assuming his hamstring is back to normal.
Brek Shea had a lackluster debut with the National team, albeit because of an experimental 4-3-3 lineup, but the young midfielder will certainly have his eyes set on reclaiming his starting spot with FCD. Marvin Chavez has filled in brilliantly for Shea, grabbing two goals and an assist in three games, and most likely won't have to worry about making way for him just yet.
Intangibles
Salt Lake: Everyone - players and fans - should be salivating over this matchup: the Irresistible Force (Dallas' 19-game unbeaten streak) meets the Immovable Object (RSL's 24-game home unbeaten streak). But perhaps the most important effect of this match is psychological: these teams are likely first-round playoff opponents, so whoever comes out on top of this one will have the mental advantage going into that first postseason match.
Dallas: Salt Lake haven't lost at home in 24 matches. Dallas haven't lost on the road in 12. In their last meeting, FCD stunned the visitors with a 2-0 thumping. A win at Rio Tinto would see Dallas go ahead of RSL on points by one, and steal the second place spot. Anything but a win will all but guarantee the Hoops of finishing third in the Western Conference. There is plenty to play for without even mentioning Jason Kreis.
Prediction
Salt Lake: These are two evenly-matched teams, but both show a propensity to draw matches and struggle to win outright. No reason to bet against history here. Real Salt Lake 1-1 FC Dallas.
Dallas: This game could go either way. If Dallas can impose themselves on the home-side and control the ball, it's their game to lose. If they allow an early goal, a far too frequent occurrence for them, it will be very difficult to get back in the game. 1-1 Draw
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Real Salt Lake: The defense continues to be scintillating, this time holding a stacked New York team to only one shot on goal to earn yet another shutout in a road game. Appreciators of history, take note: you are watching the best defense MLS has ever seen. Consider that with two games to go, Salt Lake are on pace to allow the fewest goals ever for a single season - and their cushion right now is a whopping seven goals. RSL have earned a clean sheet in no less than half of their games this season, a fact that is simply stunning.
FC Dallas: George John, Ugo Ihemelu and captain Daniel Hernandez are all back in practice after being out injured. John made a short appearance against Colorado last weekend, but came off with a tight hamstring. Ihemelu went the full 90 in a reserve team match played Sunday morning, which is good news. Hernandez hasn't seen action since Sept. 16, nearly a month ago, but is now back in training and is expected to be ready to go by the time playoffs start.
This is all bodes well for Dallas, as they have been noticeably weaker since losing so many starters to injury. Assuming these three, as well as keeper Kevin Hartman (who's progress is unknown), are at 100% for the post-season, the Hoops will have some very important fresh legs on the field, a definite advantage.
Off Target
Salt Lake: Despite the offense looking a bit more like they did in the "good old days" last weekend, the ability to put balls in the net is still eluding this team. The finishing still isn't there and the sheer quantity of chances we've grown accustomed to seeing has diminished. This, combined with the solid defense, has turned RSL into a team that's very prone to drawing matches. That may be fine when you're coasting through the end of the MLS season, but it won't cut it during the playoffs when you have to win to advance. Real won't be keen to rely on more shootout drama in order to advance through the playoffs, so the defending champs will need to get their scoring touch back if they hope to repeat.
Dallas: It would be a shame if FCD hit a slump just as the season winds down. With two games left to go, two very important games mind you, Dallas have little room for error. Their 2-2 draw against the Rapids showed just how bad they need Hernandez back on the field. Jackson Goncalves just doesn't seem fit for the middle of the park, and Dax McCarty is still trying to get his sharpness back. Rookie Eric Alexander continues to be solid, but he needs a partner that can provide the same consistency.
Tactics
Salt Lake: With the team mostly healthy, don't expect many changes in personnel from what we're used to seeing from Salt Lake. But expect to see heavy emphasis on midfield defense as RSL will be keyed in on disrupting David Ferreira. Ferreira's tendency to roam all over, looking for soft spots in the defense, means RSL will need to keep good track of him and not let Kyle Beckerman get sucked out of position trying to cover.
Dallas: The question this week is whether Ihemelu will get back in the lineup. Zach Loyd has been nothing short of excellent as a replacement for the veteran defender, and would certainly be a candidate for Rookie of the Year if he'd been playing regularly all season. Trainers have cleared Ihemelu for action, but with a warning to avoid heading the ball. It seems unlikely that coach Schellas Hyndman will return Ihemelu to the starting XI as long as that disclaimer is attached. Loyd will most likely line up alongside John, assuming his hamstring is back to normal.
Brek Shea had a lackluster debut with the National team, albeit because of an experimental 4-3-3 lineup, but the young midfielder will certainly have his eyes set on reclaiming his starting spot with FCD. Marvin Chavez has filled in brilliantly for Shea, grabbing two goals and an assist in three games, and most likely won't have to worry about making way for him just yet.
Intangibles
Salt Lake: Everyone - players and fans - should be salivating over this matchup: the Irresistible Force (Dallas' 19-game unbeaten streak) meets the Immovable Object (RSL's 24-game home unbeaten streak). But perhaps the most important effect of this match is psychological: these teams are likely first-round playoff opponents, so whoever comes out on top of this one will have the mental advantage going into that first postseason match.
Dallas: Salt Lake haven't lost at home in 24 matches. Dallas haven't lost on the road in 12. In their last meeting, FCD stunned the visitors with a 2-0 thumping. A win at Rio Tinto would see Dallas go ahead of RSL on points by one, and steal the second place spot. Anything but a win will all but guarantee the Hoops of finishing third in the Western Conference. There is plenty to play for without even mentioning Jason Kreis.
Prediction
Salt Lake: These are two evenly-matched teams, but both show a propensity to draw matches and struggle to win outright. No reason to bet against history here. Real Salt Lake 1-1 FC Dallas.
Dallas: This game could go either way. If Dallas can impose themselves on the home-side and control the ball, it's their game to lose. If they allow an early goal, a far too frequent occurrence for them, it will be very difficult to get back in the game. 1-1 Draw
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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Real Salt Lake 0-9 FC Dallas
- 29.41 %
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Real Salt Lake 9-0 FC Dallas
- 11.77 %
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Real Salt Lake 2-0 FC Dallas
- 8.82 %
| 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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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 |
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 |
| 18 | Nick Rimando | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Tony Beltran | Defender |
| 77 | Andy Williams | Midfielder |
| 16 | Fabian Espindola | Striker |
| 6 | Nat Borchers | Defender |
| 4 | Jamison Olave | Defender |
| 3 | Robbie Russell | Defender |
| 8 | Will Johnson | Striker |
| 5 | Kyle Beckerman | Midfielder |
| 11 | Javier Morales | Midfielder |
| 20 | Ned Grabavoy | Midfielder |
| 15 | Álvaro Saborío | Striker |
| 24 | Kyle Reynish | Goalkeeper |
| - | Rauwshan McKenzie | Defender |
| 18 | Collen Warner | Midfielder |
| 23 | Paulo Jr. | Striker |
| - | Jean Alexandre | Midfielder |
| 10 | Robbie Findley | Striker |
| - | Dario Sala | Goalkeeper |
| - | Marvin Chávez | Midfielder |
| 24 | Eric Alexander | Midfielder |
| 6 | Jackson | Defender |
| 5 | Jair Benítez | Defender |
| 14 | George John | Defender |
| 3 | Ugo Ihemelu | Goalkeeper |
| - | Heath Pearce | Defender |
| 2 | Daniel Hernández | Defender |
| 11 | Dax McCarty | Midfielder |
| 10 | David Arturo Ferreira | Midfielder |
| - | M. Rodríguez | Striker |
| - | Chris Sharpe | Goalkeeper |
| 19 | Zach Loyd | Defender |
| - | Jeff Cunningham | Striker |
| 34 | Ruben Luna | Striker |
| 20 | Brek Shea | Defender |
| 9 | Atiba Harris | Striker |
| Nick Rimando | |
| Position: | Goalkeeper |
| Squad Number: | 18 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| David Arturo Ferreira | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 10 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 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 |