{"id":908,"date":"2016-09-25T15:27:44","date_gmt":"2016-09-25T19:27:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsoccer.com\/?p=908"},"modified":"2016-09-25T15:27:44","modified_gmt":"2016-09-25T19:27:44","slug":"fc-dallas-shoots-blanks-real-salt-lake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2016\/09\/25\/fc-dallas-shoots-blanks-real-salt-lake\/","title":{"rendered":"FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake: Dallas Shoots Blanks in Utah"},"content":{"rendered":"

MLS<\/strong> points leader FC Dallas<\/a><\/strong> played to a 0-0 draw with\u00a0<\/em>Real Salt Lake<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0Saturday evening at Rio Tinto\u00a0Stadium<\/strong> in Utah<\/strong>. RSL\u00a0had more\u00a0possession and created\u00a0more opportunities, but the visitors’ keeper\u00a0Chris Seitz<\/strong> made four crucial saves to keep\u00a0the goalless draw intact.<\/p>\n

FC Dallas had already qualified for the postseason when they entered the match, with second place LA Galaxy<\/strong>\u00a0only four points behind.<\/strong>\u00a0Real Salt Lake came\u00a0into\u00a0the game\u00a0on the heels\u00a0of two consecutive defeats, positioning\u00a0them\u00a0eight points behind the conference leaders.<\/p>\n

FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake Create Chances But No Goals<\/h2>\n

The first half was a thrilling back and forth affair with both teams creating quality chances to score. FC Dallas started on the front foot and nearly netted\u00a0in the eighth minute when midfield maestro Mauro D\u00edaz<\/strong>\u00a0thumped a long range effort off the\u00a0left post. Real Salt Lake quickly found their place in the match and\u00a0created three clear cut chances by the 30th minute. All were turned away by the excellent Seitz. FC Dallas came close\u00a0again in the 39th minute from a set piece, when\u00a0Walker Zimmerman headed\u00a0a diagonal free kick on goal from close range. RSL keeper Nick Rimando<\/strong> made a fine save, diving to his left, to keep the score level at zeros.<\/p>\n

In the second half, Real Salt Lake took control of the match. Midfielder Jordon Allen had two fantastic chances to score in the 66th and 78th minutes but could not beat FC Dallas’ keeper. The second of the two chances saw Allen cleverly\u00a0dribble past the last FC Dallas defender and fire an accurate shot on goal that was parried away by the net-minder.<\/p>\n

RSL almost took the points late in the match when Ecuadorian<\/strong> forward and substitute\u00a0Joao Plata<\/strong> unleashed from 20 yards, but\u00a0his screaming strike was touched just wide of the post.<\/p>\n

So the points were shared between these two Western conference foes.\u00a0The result leaves FC Dallas five points clear at the top of the Western Conference<\/strong>. LA Galaxy<\/strong> play at home on Sunday\u00a0and have a good chance to make ground\u00a0on Dallas in the Supporters Shield<\/strong> race. RSL lands in fourth place in the Western Conference, still eight points off the lead. Recent FC Dallas acquisition Carlos Ru\u00edz<\/strong> was on the bench but did not see playing time in\u00a0the match.<\/p>\n

\n
Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n