REAL SALT LAKE 2, FC DALLAS 1
REAL SALT LAKE HEAD COACH JASON KREIS
On RSL's performance:
"That's probably one of the worst games we've played this season, in my opinion. And maybe that's a good thing because maybe we need to learn how to win ugly, and tonight was that case."
On what he was disappointed in:
"In the first half in particular, possession was just loose all over the place; it didn't seem like we could connect a 10-yard pass out there. It was an ugly soccer game to watch, for certain, and I think it continued in the second half. We got a little bit sharper and brighter and created a couple of nice opportunities to put the game away. Again, we're in a spot where if we take one of those good chances inside their box early in the second half then maybe it gets a little prettier and we get to knock the ball around.
"It was a dogfight out there. And in some ways I'm glad because it's the first time this season where our guys have faced adversity by giving up the goal in the second half, and they reacted well. To come away with a win teaches us something about our group."
On the switch of formation to a 3-5-2 to start the match:
"The last time we played against a 3-5-2 was at D.C. United, and it felt like we were a little unclear with our matchups. If you play against a 3-5-2, the cleanest and easiest way to match up is to also play a 3-5-2, and I think we have the personnel to do it in that we have three physical center backs and two wide players that can get up and down the park. But against a 3-4-3, it doesn't look so good to play three backs against the three forwards. Credit to Dallas, I thought they gave us trouble all night."
On whether he was nervous in the waning moments:
"Yes, absolutely. You know, they had two chances there at the end to ruin my week, for sure."
On Friday's trade of midfielder Carey Talley to Chivas USA:
"I think it was a win-win-win. It was not a decision to make us better right now, but in the long term I think it was a good decision for this club. It was a good thing for Carey Talley because I think it's going to extend his career a little bit and get him into a fresh place. And it was a good decision for Chivas because they picked up a veteran and leader who I think is a very smart soccer player and a very good one. I think everybody wins in this one."
REAL SALT LAKE MIDFIELDER KYLE BECKERMAN
On coming back after Dallas tied the game:
"It was great. It was our first time to come back to get the win after being tied. It was big for us. We stepped over a hurdle tonight and now we can look forward now that we know we can win games like that."
On the pace of the game:
"There were little bursts here and there. That's been our thing all season -- we keep playing in spurts. I thought in the first half we had some bursts where we had good possession and great stuff, and then we got away from it. Maybe that's credit to Dallas. They're a good team as well.
"The second half was kind of similar. We had spurts where we played great possession, and then Dallas came out and brought everything at us. They pushed numbers and were coming for the draw. Sometimes it's tough to keep possession, but we kept trying to stick at it and at the end it was just a dogfight to get to the whistle."
On his second-half goal:
"It was a decent little spurt of possession and Andy (Williams), that's what he does. He can make that final pass for anybody and I knew it was coming. I made the run and he put it on a plate for me. Luckily, I put it in."
REAL SALT LAKE FORWARD KENNY DEUCHAR
On the victory:
"Just great to get a win, obviously. It extends our unbeaten run at home, which is great for us because if people know it's a hard place to come that gives us the upper hand before we even step on the pitch. I think we showed great character, being a goal up and in the lead, back to 1-1, then getting the goal and being tough enough to defend the lead. That's just a great feeling to know that you were all in it together and you fought for each other and came away with the win."
FC DALLAS HEAD COACH STEVE MORROW
Overall thoughts on the match:
"We know [Rice-Eccles] is a difficult place for us to come and play. We got ourselves back in the game after not playing too well in the first half and were one-nil down to a very scrappy, unlucky goal that could've been prevented. And then we got ourselves back in the game and should have pushed forward from there and didn't. We still had our chances to tie the game up towards the end and didn't. It's a frustrating loss, it's a disappointing one, but the team will pick themselves up and get ready for the next one."
FC DALLAS FORWARD KENNY COOPER
On the loss:
"Obviously it's not the result we wanted, credit to [Real Salt Lake]. They put two past our strong defense, where defensively we've been great all year; (Dario Sala) has been excellent and the back three as well. I feel we were maybe a little unlucky on the first goal, but we'll stay positive because we've got a big game coming up next week against the Galaxy."
On his goal tonight and the setup man, midfielder Andre Rocha:
"Well, Andre Rocha put in a great ball through, and that's the second time he's done it this year. Against Houston he played me a great through ball; it was no surprise. He's been giving me great service, and Andre's obviously been a great addition to this squad. Early in the season he's made a great impact on our team."
FC DALLAS DEFENDER DUILIO DAVINO
On the game:
"We're not content, we need to work better. We let too many points get away from us, and we really need to work hard for next weekend's game."
On what to take from today's game:
"Working is how you get the team back after a game like this; working is the only way to do it. We have a long week, and it's not necessarily that we speak a lot, it's that we work a lot for it."
