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FC Dallas Remains Perfect at Home with 2-0 Win over Real Salt Lake

March 24, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, Texas - FC Dallas (3-1-0, 9 points) won its third straight match at home, 2-0, over Real Salt Lake tonight at FC Dallas Stadium.

FC Dallas' Jackson assisted on Fabain Castillo's goal in the 71st minute before scoring one of his own in the 81st minute to earn Budweiser Man of the Match honors. In goal, Chris Seitz made four saves to pick up his first shutout since Aug. 29, 2009.

Making his first start since forgoing the final months of his 2012 season to donate bone marrow, Seitz was called upon in just the 13th minute. The play began with Real Salt Lake forward Joao Plata beating out his defender to retrieve a ball played over the top of the FC Dallas backline. Plata gained control of the ball well inside the area, off to the left side of Seitz and attempted to pass to Luis Gil at the back post. The ball made it to Gil, but was off target just enough to allow Seitz to make a sliding save to deny Salt Lake of an early lead.

FC Dallas countered in the 22nd minute with a combination play involving the majority of the team's attacking players. Castillo started the assault by finding Kenny Cooper on the left flank. Cooper knocked a pass inside to Jackson, who managed to slip a ball outside to late-arriving defender Zach Loyd. Loyd showed shot but instead slotted a ball back inside for Cooper, who put a ball towards goal with his first touch. Fortunately for Real Salt Lake, defender Nat Borchers stayed home and managed to save Cooper's attempt from crossing the goal line with a last-ditch slide tackle before the ball barely missed the crossbar on its way out of play.

Following a scoreless first half, FC Dallas center back George John tested Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Josh Saunders in the 51st minute. Castillo, once gain, initiated the chance. This time Castillo earned FC Dallas a free kick 45 yards from goal. David Ferreira stepped to the set piece and put a ball into the path of John, who snapped a header towards goal only to fire the ball directly at Saunders.

Jackson played the role of creator on FC Dallas' goal in the 71st minute. The Brazilian received the ball on the right flank and switched the point of attack with a 40-yard pass to Castillo on the left flank. Isolated against his defender, Castillo beat his marker with a right-to-left move before hammering a shot over Saunders' head and into the top of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Real Salt Lake fought to even the score and nearly did in the 77th minute when right midfielder Ned Grabavoy found Robbie Findley running across the top of the box. Findley managed to pull Seitz off his line and nearly beat him to the back post, but the 6-3 goalkeeper got his left hand to the shot, killing the ball at the top of the six-yard box. Salt Lake forward Devon Sandoval was first to the loose ball, hitting a first-touch strike towards goal, but second-year defender Matt Hedges arrived a half-second later to knock the ball away and save a sure goal.

FC Dallas' second goal came off a defensive miscue by Salt Lake in the 81st minute. Jackson was there to take advantage, stealing a ball off the foot of Saunders with a slide-tackle that sent the ball rolling slowly over the goal line.

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