Real Salt Lake comes back from behind with 3-2 win over Dallas

Real Salt Lake pulled off a win at home tonight after going down 1-0 early in the first half. They scored three straight thanks to Justen Glad, Jony Menendez, and Albert Rusnak, hanging on for a 3-2 win. The victory keeps them above the playoff line for the time being, just one point ahead of eighth-place Vancouver.

Dallas opened the scoring in the 19th minute thanks to a well timed pass from Jesus Ferreira in behind the defense to Franco Jara. Jara let a shot rip and it sailed past Andrew Putna, putting the home side at a disadvantage early on in the game.

RSL got one back in the 42nd minute off a set piece when Albert Rusnak dished a ball to Aaron Herrera. Herrera sent a long cross in from the right side that found Justen Glad’s head and sent it into the net, setting the score at 1-1 just before halftime.

With the score line deadlocked at half, RSL trailed in possession with Dallas controlling 59 percent, and RSL’s lone shot on goal was enough to keep them at pace with the visitors.

Real Salt Lake came out strong in the second half and got a goal early on courtesy of Jony Menendez. Noah Powder let a shot rip from outside the box and Dallas ‘keeper Phelipe Megiolaro got a hand to it to parry it away, but Menendez pounced on it and tapped it in for the easy goal putting RSL up 2-1.

Rusnak grabbed RSL’s third goal of the game in the 72nd minute when Menendez sent a low cross in and found him waiting at the top of the box. Rusnak hit far post and although Phelipe got a hand to it, it bounced past him and into the net as RSL took the 3-1 lead with some superb attacking play.

Dallas got one back in the 80th minute thanks to some fancy footwork from Jesus Ferreira. Ruiz slid but Ferreira got around him, and sent the ball in past both Glad and Putna on the near post, pulling the visitors within one goal of a draw.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net for the remainder of the game and RSL hung on for the 3-2 win, outshooting the visitors 24-11 overall, and 11-3 on frame. They ended up controlling 56 percent of possession which was a stark contrast from the stat after the first 45 minutes.