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MLS Real Salt Lake

10-Man Real Salt Lake Draws FC Dallas 1-1

October 5, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah - Real Salt Lake (15-10-7, 52 points, West #1) earned a hard fought point on Saturday night, tying FC Dallas (10-10-11, 41 points, West #8) 1-1 despite going down a man in the 17th minute in front of a sold-out crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Real Salt Lake started brightly, but went down a man in the 17th minute when DF Abdoulie Mansally was shown a straight red card for a foul on Dallas MF Jackson. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Real Salt Lake scored first, going ahead in the 60th minute through FW Alvaro Saborio. Dallas FW Kenny Cooper equalized 12 minutes after Saborio's goal to send both teams home with a point.

The result maintains the Claret-and-Cobalt's position at the top of the Western Conference, one point ahead of second-place Seattle Sounders FC. RSL is one point behind the New York Red Bulls in the Supporters' Shield race. Seattle has two games in hand on both RSL and New York.

Real Salt Lake had a golden opportunity in the fifth minute. MF Javier Morales curled a free kick in from the right flank toward Saborio and strike partner FW Robbie Findley just inside the penalty spot. Unfortunately for RSL, both strikers went for the ball, getting in each other's way before combining for a header that bounced off the turf and over the bar.

Jackson put one off the post for Dallas in the 10th minute. FW Fabian Castillo hit an early ball in from the left wing, finding Jackson at the back post. The Brazilian directed his header across the face of goal, past outstretched RSL GK Nick Rimando and off the left post.

RSL went down a man in the 17th, when Mansally was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Jackson. Referee Hilario Grajeda sent Mansally off after the Gambian international clattered into Jackson on the left side in the FCD half.

Claret-and-Cobalt Head Coach Jason Kreis made a tactical change to adjust for the Mansally red card in the 21st, inserting DF Lovel Palmer for Findley.

Rimando made a huge save in the 34th to keep it scoreless. Dallas got behind the RSL defense for a point blank chance, with Castillo collecting a through ball on the left wing and racing into the area before squaring the ball to a wide open Jackson at the top of the six. The speedy attacker looked poised to put FCD ahead, but Rimando had other ideas, just getting a touch to Jackson's first-time flick from the top of the six to deflect the effort over the bar.

Real Salt Lake started the second half brightly, nearly taking the lead in the 49th minute. Morales slipped a gorgeous through ball to MF Ned Grabavoy in the right side of the area, putting him in for a 1-on-1 with FCD GK Chris Seitz. Grabavoy ran around the ball and put a first time shot on frame, but Seitz came up big, with the former RSL man blocking Grabavoy's eight-yard effort with a fine kick save.

Saborio put the Claret-and-Cobalt ahead in the 60th minute. Rimando started the play, launching a long ball forward that deflected off a Dallas player and toward the FCD goal. Saborio ran onto the opportunity, brilliantly letting the ball ride across his body before half-volleying it inside the left post from 12 yards out.

Dallas equalized in the 72nd minute. Substitute MF Je-Vaughn Watson got free in the left side of the area, putting a ball across the goalmouth that rolled past an onrushing Rimando and found Cooper at the back post. The substitute striker took a touch and slotted home from close range, finishing past a scrambling RSL defense.

Both sides pushed for a winner in the game's final 15 minutes, with Dallas exerting its numerical advantage to hold more of the run of play. Neither side was able to create any clear cut opportunities however, with the game ending in a draw.

Real Salt Lake is on a bye next week. The Claret-and-Cobalt will return to action two weeks from tonight, taking on Western Conference foe Portland Timbers at JELD-WEN Field.

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