FRISCO, Texas – Brek Shea had a goal and an assist for FC Dallas as they ended Real Salt Lake’s 10-game unbeaten streak with a 2-0 win over the defending MLS Cup champions at Pizza Hut Park on Saturday night. Atiba Harris scored the home side's second in the win.
The goals by Shea and Harris came in an eight-minute span of the second half as the Hoops brought an end to goalkeeper Nick Rimando's club-record shutout streak for RSL of 566 minutes, good for third best all-time. The visitors struck the post twice in the game as they lost for the first time since April 24.
The match marked the FCD debut of Colombian forward Milton Rodriguez, who struck the crossbar on a header inside 10 minutes of his first MLS game on a corner kick from fellow Colombian David Ferreira.
RSL also struck the woodwork shortly thereafter. Midfielder Javier Morales gained possession in the FCD third of the field, dashed up the left flank and fired a shot toward goal. Morales’ boot was met at the near post by FCD goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. The veteran 'keeper deflected the ball and it first bounced on the ground and then off the crossbar before rolling away from danger.
Morales was again at the heart of the RSL attack toward the end of the first half. His free kick from 40 yards out found the head of fellow MLS All-Star Jamison Olave and it looked like his header would find the back of the net before Shea, who was backpedaling on the play, cleared the attempt off the line.
FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman made one change to start the second half. Jeff Cunningham came on for midfielder Dax McCarty, who was bothered by a tight quadriceps muscle in training earlier this week. Cunningham took Rodriguez’s spot up top in Hyndman’s 4-1-4-1 formation while the Colombian newcomer moved back to fill McCarty’s role as FCD’s linking midfielder.
The visitors again were foiled by the posts in the 57th minute when Will Johnson put a blast between FCD defenders George John and Heath Pearce. However, the RSL midfielder’s shot struck the right post and the match remained scoreless.
Shea’s goal came after Rodriguez took a shot from just outside the arc that Rimando stopped at the near post. The ensuing carom fell to the feet of the big Texan and Shea buried it for his fourth goal of the year in the 69th minute.
FCD added to their lead eight minutes later. After Ferreira took a corner from the right, the ball found Pearce on the far side. He then struck a cross into the heart of the RSL area that caromed off Shea before finding Harris, who buried it in the back of the net for his first goal in 10 games.
With Saturday’s win, FCD are now unbeaten in six matches. RSL remain winless all-time at Pizza Hut Park, having lost all seven matches they have played in Frisco.
Scoring Summary:
DAL -- Brek Shea 4 (unassisted) 69
DAL -- Atiba Harris 3 (Brek Shea 2, Heath Pearce 5) 77
Misconduct Summary:
DAL -- Ugo Ihemelu (caution; Reckless Tackle) 40
RSL -- Will Johnson (caution; Reckless Tackle) 42
DAL -- David Ferreira (caution; Reckless Foul) 68
Real Salt Lake -- Nick Rimando, Robbie Russell, Jamison Olave, Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert, Jean Alexandre (Alvaro Saborio 61), Javier Morales, Fabian Espindola, Ned Grabavoy, Will Johnson (Collen Warner 81), Robbie Findley (Andy Williams 61).
FC Dallas -- Kevin Hartman, Heath Pearce, George John, Ugo Ihemelu, Jair Benitez, Atiba Harris, Daniel Hernandez, Dax McCarty (Jeff Cunningham 46), Brek Shea, David Ferreira, Milton Rodriguez (Bruno Guarda 72).
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Referee's Assistants: Jeff Gontarek, Adam Garner
4th Official: Landis Wiley
Time of Game: 1:53
Weather: Sunny and 101 degrees
Attendance: 11,170
