FRISCO - FC Dallas wraps up a heavy portion of their home schedule as Real Salt Lake visits Toyota Stadium for the only time in 2017. Dallas (5-2-5) is looking to get back into the win column after four straight winless both at home and overall, their last three-point performance coming last month in the first meeting against RSL. Salt Lake (4-9-2) has alternated wins and losses since the first meeting, including a 5-1 thrashing on Wednesday night in Houston against the Dynamo.
Offensive Spark
Coming off their most goals scored in a match this season on May 6 in the 3-0 win in Salt Lake, FCD has scored just two goals in four matches - two draws and two losses. Dallas has put up double-digit shots in three of the four since, but just hasn’t had luck finding the back of the net - something Oscar Pareja knows will come soon enough, and hopes that a fresh memory of scoring multiple times against RSL helps.
Key Match-Ups
Atiba Harris vs. Joao Plata: While the offense has been much of the talk in recent weeks, the Dallas defense took a hit with Walker Zimmerman out 4-6 weeks injured and Matt Hedges called in to USMNT duty. Atiba Harris will shift centrally and have to stop the veteran, Plata, who has goals in two straight matches.
Maxi Urruti vs. Chris Schuler: Dallas’ leading scorer has been held silent in two straight starts, with just one shot on target in the last two weeks. Schuler will see FCD for the first time this season after sitting out the first meeting on suspension.
Last Time Out
(4-3-3): Matt Van Oekel; Justin Schmidt, Chris Schuler, Aaron Maund, Tony Beltran; Albert Rusnak, Sunny, Kyle Beckerman; Joao Plata, Yura Movsisyan, Jefferson Savarino.
Key to Three Points
Dallas will look to end their four-weekend homestand on the right foot before embarking on three straight road matches. The new-look defense will be put to the test with several new faces seeing chances to make names for themselves. If they can hold their own against a RSL side that has scored a conference-low 13 goals this season, while the offense continues to create chances and can solve their goal-scoring woes, Dallas should be able to make Salt Lake’s trip to Texas a defeating one.
