America First Field, Sandy, UT – With key parts of the offense unavailable RSL holds off FC Dallas to secure a much needed win. With an early PK from Brayan Vera and a shot from midfield from Anderson Julio RSL took an early lead. Dallas was able to pull one back in first half stoppage on a quick kick with most of the Claret and Cobalt still walking back to their positions. Anderson Julio completed his brace in the 62nd minute and it turned in to a nail biter when Dallas was awarded a PK in the 88th minute. Even with the 10 minutes of stoppage time that seemed to come out of nowhere Dallas was unable to punch through the Real defense and ended up on the wrong end of the tally.
The first half started out with a bang, literately when Anderson Julio was taken down in the area that resulted in a penalty kick awarded to the home side. It wasn’t even close as Brayan Vera totally faked out Maarten Paes to put RSL on top in the 11th minute. RSL kept up the pressure and in the 24th minute Gavin Beavers lofted the ball to Anderson Julio at midfield who turned around and took a shot that threaded the needle between the hands of Paes and the crossbar to double the lead. Just before the break Dallas was able to pull one back when Jesus Ferreira caught everyone by surprise with a quick free kick just outside the box to put Dallas on the board. After a quick review the goal stood even though it appeared like the referee was walking the other way at the time.
Pablo must have given a great pep talk at the half because the Claret and Cobalt started up play with a renewed deterination. The pressure paid off when Anderson Julio completed a brace in the 62nd minute to put RSL back up by 2 goals. There were a number of great shots on goal for the locals and it looked like the added energy that Diego Luna added when he was subbed in the 57th minute might help RSL add to their tally but it was Dallas that struck next with a converted PK by Alan Velasco in the 88th minute. Pablo Mastroeni made some defensive subs to stack the deck late in the match that helped RSL outlast Dallas, even with a whopping 10 minutes of stoppage time.
Tonights win keeps Real Salt Lake in the top 4 in the west and puts them closer to clinching a spot in the playoffs. With only 3 more home matches this one feels really good as they enter the home stretch of the season.
Chicho and Alexandros Katranis are serving one game suspensions for yellow card accumulation. RSL stays home with a quick turnaround when Portland visits America First Field on Saturday, September 21st.
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 2 1 3
FC Dallas 1 1 2
Scoring Summary
RSL – Brayan Vera – 11′ PK
RSL – Anderson Julio – 24′
DAL – Jesus Ferreira – 45’+1′
RSL – Anderson Julio – 62′
DAL – Alan Velasco – 88′ PK
Misconduct Summary
RSL – Matt Crooks – 90′ – foul
RSL – Emeka Eneli – 90’+9′ – foul
Officials
Referee: Sergii Damianchuk
Assistant Referee: Michael Barwegen
Assistant Referee: Tyler Wyrostek
4th Official: Armando Villereal
Video Assistant Referee: Sorin Stoica
AVAR: Eric Weisbrod
Lineups
Real Salt Lake: Gavin Beavers; Andrew Brody; Brayan Vera; Justen Glad; Philip Quinton; Braian Ovieda; Emeka Eneli; Lachlan Brook (Diego Luna, 57′); Matthew Crooks (Maikel Chang, 95′); Dominic Marczuk (Bode Hidalgo, 77′); Anderson Julio (Diogo Goncalves, 77′)
Substitutes Not Used: Zac MacMath; Benji Michel; Javain Brown; Noel Caliskan; Tommy Silva
Head Coach: Pablo Mastroeni
FC Dallas: Maarten Paes; Sebastian Ibeagha; Nkosi Tafari (Logan Farrington, 71′); Marco Farfan; Paul Arriola; Show, (Alan Velasco, 45’+2′); Asier Illarimendi; Sam Junqua (Ruan, 46′); Sebastian Letget; Peter Musa; Jesus Ferreira (Bernard Kamungo, 81′)
Substitutes Not Used: Jimmy Maurer; Omar Gonzalez; Patrickson Delgado; Katlego Ntsabeleng; Ema Twumasi
Head Coach: Peter Luccin