Will FC Dallas snap RSL's home unbeaten streak?
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Real Salt Lake's MLS-record 24-game unbeaten streak at Rio Tinto Stadium has been an eventful one, and taking a look at the stats behind the streak — which is 518 days long, stretching back to a 2-0 loss to Kansas City on May 16, 2009 — is certainly revealing.
Here are the numbers inside the streak:
49 – Goals scored
16 – Wins
14 – Number of different teams RSL have defeated at Rio Tinto. Only San Jose escaped demise, managing draws in both of their matches. Two teams, Toronto and New York, have fallen twice during the stretch.
14 – Different RSL players that have found the score sheet
13 – Nick Rimando's shutouts
12 – Goals conceded
11 – Opposing players to score a single goal during this stretch
9 – Goals each by Alvaro Saborio and Robbie Findley.
8 – Second-half comebacks
8 – Ties (against six different teams).
5 – Largest margin of victory, a 5-0 defeat of New England on July 2, 2010 [WATCH HIGHLIGHTS]
4 – Number of 3-0 wins
2.04 – Average goals scored per game
2 – Number of scoreless draws
0.5 – Average goals allowed per game
There have been several times during the streak when an RSL loss looked to be imminent. The first occurred on July 3, 2009, when an own-goal by San Jose’s Chris Leitch in stoppage time salvaged a draw for RSL.
Twice this season, RSL have pulled out late equalizers. The first was against Seattle when Nelson Gonzalez delivered a corner kick three minutes into stoppage time that SaborÃo headed home for a 2-2 draw.
The second was more recent, against Colorado in their last home outing on Sept. 25. Nat Borchers' reverse header in stoppage time off of Andy Williams’ delivery knotted the score at 1-1 to keep the streak alive [WATCH: Borchers' equalizer].
RSL will hope they won't need such last minute heroics on Saturday, as they battle FC Dallas to see who can continue their current unbeaten streak.
Dallas are riding a 19-game overall unbeaten streak, which ties the MLS record. Should the visitors escape Rio Tinto with a win or a tie, they will set bar for most games without a loss.
