A moment of final-third quality proved elusive Saturday night at Toyota Stadium, as FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake battled to a 0-0 draw.
The match could have looked far different were it not for some jaw-dropping saves from Jesse Gonzalez on either side of halftime.
Come the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time, the FC Dallas goalkeeper sprawled to his left to deny a Marcelo Silva header from a corner kick. Then in the 56th minute, Gonzalez made himself big to rob an unmarked Corey Baird 12 yards from goal.
Dallas grew into the match come the second half, as Santiago Mosquera misplaced a breakaway in the 68th minute after a ball from Paxton Pomykal split the lines. Then energetic winger Michael Barrios collided with RSL left back Donny Toia in the 74th minute in the 18-yard box, but Video Review judged no penalty kick was warranted.
RSL were without head coach Mike Petke, who was suspended for his conduct towards the referees in a Leagues Cup match against Tigres UANL last Wednesday. Petke was shown a red card after the game, leaving assistant coach Freddy Juarez to man the sidelines against their Western Conference foes.
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Goals
- None
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: As substitutes, Dallas saw Paxton Pomykal return from injury and Edwin Gyasi receive his longest run-out since joining on loan from CSKA Sofia. But that wasn’t enough to give Luchi Gonzalez’s team their first set of back-to-back wins since mid-April. Meanwhile, RSL are now 3-1-3 across their last seven MLS matches, and this one came without Petke. A road result against a fellow Western Conference playoff team will surely be embraced.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Jesse Gonzalez’s diving stop in first-half stoppage time was a head-turner, but the timing also needs to be considered here. Had RSL snagged a go-ahead strike heading into the locker room, it would have dealt Dallas quite the blow.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Goalkeepers see no action for most of the match, but need to be tuned in when their number is called. Jesse Gonzalez did exactly that for FC Dallas, making two highlight-reel saves that prevented the club’s first home loss since May 11.
Next Up
- DAL: Saturday, August 3 at Orlando City (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada)
- RSL: Saturday, August 3 vs. New York City FC (10 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US, on DAZN in Canada)
