SANDY, Utah - FC Dallas scored more goals at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday night than they have in almost the last five years combined. They also held Real Salt Lake off the scoreboard for the seventh time in that same span.
Dallas now has a league-best plus-8 goal differential thanks to their dominating 3-0 win, and it was just the improvement on both sides of the ball that Oscar Pareja was looking for this week.
“To come in here in Rio Tinto and to get three points is priceless,” the head coach said after the match. “The way that we did, I thought, makes us a success. In the first half we didn’t have too many options but we were efficient in the way we started the half…In the second half we tried to adjust that clog in the middle. Attackers came in the game and helped us and gave us a hand there. We controlled the middle and started to get options. That way, I have to say, was a very tactical game for us.”
After giving up multiple goals for the first time this season in league play last week, the FCD defense responded with its fourth clean sheet in eight games. Goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez has been in goal for every shutout this season and made a season-high six saves en route to the win.
“We’re always looking for the clean sheet when we go on the road,” captain Matt Hedges said. “That’s our mission when we go on the road, to get that clean sheet and we’re happy with it. We gave up too many shots I think, but other than that good.”
On the other side of the ball, the Dallas offense posted its most productive night of their MLS campaign with three goals - two coming from Maxi Urruti in his second brace of the season.
“We knew we needed another 3 points to be up there on top and truthfully for me to convert is good,” said the striker, who now has six goals in league play. “It gets me energy to continue and the team helps me out a lot."
“This team naturally is good forward, but we want to be strong defensively and getting more games when we have our 1-0 and that has given the boys confidence. It is important to keep the balance but when you go on the road and you score 3 goals and no conceded there is nothing more that you can ask for.”