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FRISCO, Texas — Real Salt Lake made history again this season with a 3-0 win over Major League Soccer Western Conference opponent FC Dallas, its first-ever win in the Lone Star State.
“I’m pleased, pleased with what the guys put in, pleased that the guys continue to believe, pleased that we get contribution from players off the bench,” RSL head coach Jason Kreis said in a post-game TV interview. “Another player enters our team tonight off the bench, (goalkeeper) Jeff Attinella, and comes in and does a fantastic job, makes two saves to keep us headed in the right direction at the end of the game. Really, really pleased with this group right now, I couldn’t be happier.”
Attinella entered the match for RSL goalkeeper Josh Saunders who suffered an injury in the first half when he went up for a ball and came down, appearing to land wrong on his left knee. RSL Media Services manager Sam Stejskal tweeted it was an LCL injury.
Attinella’s appearance was his first ever in the Claret and Cobalt and his MLS debut.
“Honestly I really don’t know how to feel right now,” Attinella said in a post-game TV interview. “Josh went down the first half and he was having a good game. I’m just excited that our team got that insurance goal, that’s for sure, and then just really happy that we can come out and get three points.”
The Salt Lake club’s goals came off midfielders Javier Morales in the 39th minute and Ned Grabavoy in the 79th minute, along with forward Olmes Garcia in the 90th minute. Morales also tallied two assists on the club’s second two goals of the night.
The victory extended the Claret and Cobalt’s current unbeaten streak to 11 games across both MLS and U.S. Open Cup play. The club also now sits a little more comfortably on top of the Western Conference table with 37 points and an overall 11-5-4 record on the season.
It's something Kreis says comes down to the way his rebuilt roster is taking on the season.
“For me it just comes down to work and belief,” said Kreis. “The togetherness, the camaraderie, the fellowship in this group right now is just second to none. Everybody, not whether they’re starting the game, there is no holding their heads down — they know they are going to contribute in some fashion. The ones that don’t even get in the game, they are so happy for their teammates and ready and willing to work all week in training to make everybody better. That’s what it takes in this league, and that’s what it takes in this league in particular.”
The Salt Lake club will return to its home pitch Saturday as it host MLS Eastern Conference opponent Sporting Kansas City July 20.
Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
