Dallas hands RSL first home loss 1-0

SANDY — Real Salt Lake's 10-game home unbeaten streak came to an end Saturday in a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas at Rio Tinto Stadium.

The home team dominated everything but the scoreboard, with a 70-30% advantage in possession and 25-7 lead in total shots.

"This is where stats go out the window," head coach Pablo Mastroeni said after the game. "It doesn't make sense."

RSL's impressive display of possession began early, going for several minutes without turning the ball over in the opening 10 minutes. Two close chances came from the extended build-up — both headers — from Jefferson Savarino and Sergio Cordova.

Savarino's header came off a cross from the left by Andrew Brody and went just wide of the far post, while Cordova's came off a cross from the right by Maikel Chang and went straight into the keeper's arms.

The opening opportunities had RSL up to a 0.5-0 lead in expected goals after just 10 minutes.

The tides quickly turned, however, as RSL got careless in the backfield and Dallas capitalized, giving Jesus Ferreira his 12th goal of the season — good for second in MLS — to take a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute.

"We were sloppy in the first, they capitalized and we couldn't get it back," Justen Glad succinctly summarized the conceded goal and result.

Savarino had another header chance in the 31st minute right in front of the goal, but the Dallas keeper was there, once again, to gobble it up. The point-blank chance put RSL up to a 1.2-0.3 lead in expected goals, despite trailing 1-0.

RSL had another header on goal right at the end of the first half when Herrera found Brody at the far post, but the keeper covered up the near-post opening to keep Dallas up 1-0 at the break.

The home team got off another five quick shots early in the second half, but most of them sailed wide of the goal. The frustration built in the stadium as RSL had 14 total shots and four on frame, with no goals to show for it through 60 minutes.

Anderson Julio came on in the 71st minute with the team, once again, needing the clutch goal-scoring ability of the super-sub to come through in the final 20 minutes to try and salvage the home unbeaten streak.

Savarino gave it one last go in the 83rd minute to give him six shots on the night, but Maarten Paes came up with his fifth save for Dallas to maintain the advantage late in a heated game.

Six minutes of stoppage time were given, and at the end of which half the stadium thought Justin Meram scored on an edge-of-the-box curler, but it was not to be, as the ball went just wide of the goal.

RSL travels to San Jose to take on the Earthquakes next on July 30, before returning home on Aug. 6 to host Gareth Bale and LAFC at Rio Tinto.

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