FRISCO, Texas (Saturday, May 22, 2021) – Real Salt Lake (2-1-2, 8 points) got a late goal from Damir Kreilach to earn a 2-2 draw against FC Dallas at Toyota Stadium on Saturday.
Kreilach’s late equalizer, his second goal of the season, capped a night that saw Rubio Rubin score his fourth goal of the year while David Ochoa made eight saves to preserve the draw as RSL remains unbeaten on the road through the first two away matches of 2021.
In the first half, Dallas held 68 percent of the possession and outshot Salt Lake 18-4, but RSL utilized the high press to open scoring when Nick Besler created a turnover and found Rubio for a left-footed goal to take the lead in the 20th minute. That lead held until the 43rd minute when Franco Jara converted a penalty to equalize at 1-1 before the halftime break. Ochoa finished the first half with six saves and RSL defended 10 Dallas corner kicks.
The second half saw much of the same as Dallas snared the lead through a goal from Ryan Hollingshead on a give-and-go up the left side to make it 2-1 in the 83rd minute. But a late header from Kreilach off a ball whipped in by Aaron Herrera equalized in the 86th minute and RSL left Dallas with a point.
UP NEXT: RSL returns home to face Minnesota United FC in a rematch of Salt Lake’s season-opening 2-1 road win at Allianz Field on April 24. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT from Rio Tinto Stadium.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RSL: Rubio Rubin (Nick Besler) 20’ – RSL gained possession on a misplayed ball in the back by Dallas and Nick Besler centered a pass to Rubio Rubin. He turned on his defender and fired a left-footed shot past Jimmy Maurer for his fourth goal of the season and a 1-0 lead.
FCD: Franco Jara (PK) 43’ – After Marcelo Silva was whistled for a foul in the box, Franco Jara sent the penalty to the right side while David Ochoa dove the opposite direction to level the score at 1-1.
FCD: Ryan Hollingshead (Paxton Pomykal) 83’ – Ryan Hollingshead worked a give-and-go with Paxton Pomykal up the left side and took a touch into the box on the return pass, clipping a shot off the outstretched leg of Justen Glad to skip into the net to make it 2-1.
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Aaron Herrera) 86’ – With RSL pressing for an equalizer, Aaron Herrera whipped a ball in from the right side, finding Damir Kreilach for a header into the back of the net for his second goal of the season to even it up at 2-2.
NOTES:
- RSL defenders Aaron Herrera and Marcelo Silva returned to the starting lineup after missing the last two matches due to injury.
- Midfielder Everton Luiz was out of action for the fourth straight week due to injury.
- Real Salt Lake started four Homegrown players – David Ochoa, Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera and Andrew Brody.
- Rubio Rubin’s goal in the 20th minute ended a head-to-head scoreless streak of 221 minutes between RSL and FC Dallas. The previous two meetings ended in scoreless draws and the last goal was scored between the two teams on March 30, 2019.
Match: Real Salt Lake at FC Dallas
Date: May 22, 2021
Venue: Toyota Stadium; Frisco, Texas
Weather: Rain and 73
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 1 2
FC Dallas 1 1 2
RSL: Rubio Rubin (Nick Besler) 20’
FCD: Franco Jara (PK) 43’
FCD: Ryan Hollingshead (Paxton Pomykal) 83’
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Aaron Herrera) 86’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): David Ochoa; Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Andrew Brody (Donny Toia 88’); Nick Besler, Pablo Ruiz (Erik Holt 88’); Albert Rusnàk, Damir Kreilach, Anderson Julio (Justin Meram 78’); Rubio Rubin (Douglas Martinez 80’)
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Ashtone Morgan, Noah Powder, Justin Portillo, Maikel Chang
FC Dallas (4-1-4-1): Jimmy Maurer; Eddie Munjoma, Matt Hedges, Jose Martinez (Bressan 63’), Ryan Hollingshead; Tanner Tessman; Jader Obrian (Szabolcs Schon 87’), Bryan Acosta, Andres Ricuarte, Freddy Vargas (Paxton Pomykal 72’); Franco Jara
Subs not used: Colin Shutler, John Nelson, Edwin Cerrillo, Ema Twumasi, Dante Sealy, Ricardo Pepi.
Stats Summary: RSL / FCD
Shots: 11 / 29
Shots on Goal: 3 / 10
Saves: 8 / 1
Corner Kicks: 1 / 15
Fouls: 14 / 13
Offside: 1 / 2
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
FCD: Andres Ricuarte (caution) 24’
FCD: Bressan (caution) 69’
RSL: Justen Glad (caution) 89’
RSL: Aaron Herrera (caution) 90’+2
RSL: Albert Rusnak (caution) 90’+4
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Joseph Dickerson
Assistant Referees: TJ Zablocki, Ryan Graves
4th Official: Matthew Thompson
VAR: Daniel Radford
AVAR: Corey Rockwell
