Real Salt Lake just can't catch a break against FC Dallas. After beating the Hoops on May 10 by a 2-1 scoreline at Rice-Eccles Stadium, it looked like RSL might prevail for a second consecutive time against FCD on Saturday.
Fabian Espindola had given the visitors a 2-1 edge in the 69th minute. But the Hoops got a pair of goals from substitute Dominic Oduro, both after the 83rd minute, to hand RSL yet another tough late loss.
RSL went a man down when Ian Joy was sent off in the 38th minute after getting his second yellow card of the game. But FCD wasn't able to do much with the extra attacker and both sides were left with 10 men after Bobby Rhine was sent off just before the end of the first half.
"We gave them the game," RSL midfielder Dema Kovalenko said. "We did everything we had to do until 12 minutes left in the game but didn't put enough pressure on the ball and just got tired. We put in so much hard work during the game but to lose is disappointing. This hurts so much it's unbelievable."
After both sides had six shots in the opening half, RSL mustered just two in the final 45 minutes with one of those coming on Espindola's third goal of the year.
For RSL assistant coach Robin Fraser, this loss can be pinned on one simple thing.
"I think our effort was good," Fraser said. "The guys were tired and we defended a lot. As a result, we probably weren't able to get as much pressure on the services as we would have liked. When you've got a lead, if you can solve problems further away from your goal, then you're in much better shape. We've really got to try and put a little more pressure on service late in games. This is what happens is when the other team is chasing the game. They're going to find ways and lump them in but our defenders have to deal with it."
Midfielder Kyle Beckerman felt that it was that lack of concentration late in the match that decided the result.
"We did well up until that goal," he said. "We were thinking that we would at least get a tie. It comes down to a lack of concentration I guess. It was a lack of focus."
The loss was RSL's fifth away from home this year but it was a setback that was especially painful for Beckerman.
"We haven't gotten much luck on the road (so far this year)," he said. "I felt like today was really going to be our day to get out of our losing ways on the road and we almost did. We took a little baby step today, so hopefully next time, we will go all the way with it."
Despite the loss, Kovalenko wasn't about to hoist the white flag.
"This is not over," he said. "There are so many games left but we have two games at home coming up, both must-wins. So, that's what we need to concentrate on and take it one game at a time."
Fraser agreed that all RSL can do now is regroup, especially with two games coming up in the next week. On Tuesday, they travel to Columbus for a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup qualifying match and then play host San Jose on Saturday.
"By the end of tomorrow or Monday, we need to refocus on Tuesday because for us, it's a very important game," he said. "We've got to figure out ways not to give up so many chances late and also how to not give up so many goals late."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
