With their backs against the wall, and against one of the best teams in Major League Soccer, Real Salt Lake played one of their best games ever last Saturday in beating FC Dallas 3-2.
The players rallied at halftime, committing each other to win at all costs -- failure was not an option. And they beat the Hoops with only 10 men on the field. That kind of victory can only boost RSL's morale going into this Saturday's rematch in Dallas.
"They should have a lot of confidence going into this game," midfielder Carey Talley said. "We just beat Dallas with 10 men; of course, [Dallas] is going to be at home, but to tell you the truth I don't know that it's a home-field advantage. Not many people come to the games, no matter how well the team is doing."
Talley has started all 27 games he has played this season, but will not make the trip to Dallas after getting a red card during last Saturday's victory at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Talley was ejected in the 33rd minute for a sliding tackle from behind on Ronnie O'Brien. Talley got the ball first, but referee Ricardo Salazar deemed the play serious enough for a red.
Talley disagreed with the call, noting that O'Brien committed three equally serious fouls in the game.
"I feel that I was unjustly given a red card, but what can you do about it," Talley said. "It just depends on who you foul in this league, and that's what it comes down to. It's tough knowing that, and I feel that if the referee had a better feel for the flow of the game, it probably wouldn't have gone that way."
Nonetheless, Talley will sit out on Saturday.
"I'd much rather be going to Dallas, that's for sure," Talley said. "It's frustrating. You want to be there with the boys, helping to get a win."
It will be the second consecutive game that Real will face Dallas without one of their big name players. Last Saturday, Jeff Cunningham sat out after being shown his fifth yellow card of the season in Real's previous game. Cunningham will be back, but Real will struggle to replace Talley's presence in the midfield.
"Carey's been a huge part of our team this entire year, and a lot of things Carey brings to our team, you don't even see on the field," teammate Chris Klein said. "It's a big loss for us, but we feel that we've got the talent on this team to overcome it. You never replace a guy like Carey, but we still feel that we can win the game and hold the fort down until he comes back."
Doubtless, Dallas will be looking for revenge. The Hoops have been on the verge of clinching a playoff spot the past few weeks, but have lost their last two and gone winless in their last three.
Real also are fighting for the playoffs. They currently sit in fifth place in the Western Conference, three points shy of both Colorado and Chivas USA. The Rapids and the Goats face each other in Los Angeles on Saturday, meaning Real could be in a tie for fourth place with the loser, or still in fifth place and only one point behind if there is a tie.
Either way, Real must win this weekend.
"For me, a perfect weekend is for us to win, and I don't care what the other teams do," forward Jason Kreis said.
Peter Richins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
