FC Dallas Down Real Salt Lake In Yellow-Card Ridden Match
Mar 22, 2025, 9:50 PM
SANDY, UTAH - MARCH 01: General view inside the stadium prior to the MLS match between Real Salt Lake and Seattle Sounders at America First Field on March 01, 2025 in Sandy, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SANDY, Utah—Real Salt Lake struggled to generate consistent offensive pressure, attempting two shots on goal in a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas.
Real Salt Lake (2-2-0, 6 points) played host to FC Dallas (1-2-1, 4 points) at America First Field on Saturday, March 22. RSL is 1-1 at home, while Dallas looks for its second road win.
RELATED: Diego Luna Named 2024 Utah Male Professional Athlete Of The Year
Final from the Riot#RSLvDAL | @SelectHealth pic.twitter.com/GaGDvkP4Os
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) March 23, 2025
First Half
Real Salt Lake took the pitch with Rafael Cabral in goal and without two key cogs. Diego Luna and Dominik Marczuk were unavailable due to National Team duty.
😠🙂😠😠😠😠😠
😠😠😠😠 pic.twitter.com/0EmNJOxJC9— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) March 23, 2025
Dallas had a corner kick in the fifth minute, but a handball gave RSL a free kick with no harm done.
It was an uneventful opening 20 minutes. Dallas attempted the only shot despite RSL controlling possession during the stretch.
RELATED: RSL Holds On For First Road Win Against Houston Dynamo FC
Araith Piol earned a red card with a bad tackle, putting his team a man down for the remainder of the match. Piol was sent off after his studs raked down Patrickson Delgado’s shin.
After a VAR check, Ari Piol sent off in the 23rd minute
Harsh red card #RSL
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) March 23, 2025
Emotions began to rise in the half’s latter stages, leading to a cascade of yellow cards for each side.
Dallas began to press forward, forcing Cabral to make a sprawling save to keep the match scoreless. Moments later, RSL was whistled for a foul in the box, giving FC Dallas a penalty kick in the 32nd minute.
RAFAEL CABRAL YOU HERO 🧤🧤🧤#RSL
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) March 23, 2025
Luciano Acosta took the kick, and Cabral ignited the home crowd by making a diving save to his left, turning away the PK he faced with the team.
Penalty save from Rafael Cabral to keep this game level!
📺 #MLSSeasonPass or Apple TV+: https://t.co/a6QSIypOSp pic.twitter.com/wioRHrv6u5
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 23, 2025
Six minutes into a five-minute stoppage period, Dallas struck. Luciano Acosta rose above Philip Quinton to head home a one-goal lead.
Real Salt Lake was dominated throughout the half. The home side did not attempt a shot while conceding seven shots and a goal to the visitors.
Second Half
Tyler Wolff came on to start the second 45, replacing Pablo Ruiz.
45' | Tyler starting the second half
0-1 | @SJ_Utah pic.twitter.com/SWdjxe177Z
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) March 23, 2025
Braian Ojeda created Real’s first good run in the 65th minute. Ojeda’s cross was deflected away, but possession in the offensive zone resulted in an RSL corner.
During the stoppage, Lachlan Brook came on to make his MLS debut.
RELATED: RSL Crumbles In Second Half, Falls To San Diego
66' | Lachy 🔁 Nelson
0-1 | @SJ_Utah pic.twitter.com/2yBkuXxJGI
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) March 23, 2025
Brook found space six minutes later, unleashing a rocket that cleared the crossbar harmlessly.
Seconds later, Dallas nearly had a two-goal lead, but a shot caromed off the crossbar to keep Real Salt Lake within striking distance.
Cabral made a gigantic save in the 77th minute, getting fingertips on a shot and sending it wide.
We joked a few episodes back that we would get Kobi Henry at striker at some point this season…
Kobi Henry is now in at striker #RSL
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) March 23, 2025
RSL put Dallas on its heels in the 85th minute, peppering Michael Collodi and the defense with pressure.
RSL falls at home 0-1 to @FCDallas
Down a man but the fight was there from @realsaltlake Hate the result, but you can’t hate the fight or performance.
Give us your thoughts and takes below @realsaltlake | #RSL
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) March 23, 2025
FC Dallas held on for the 1-0 win.
RELATED STORIES
How To Watch Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake will travel to the Land of 10,000 Lakes on Saturday, March 29, to face Minnesota United FC. Kickoff at Allianz Field is at 6:30 p.m. MT.
All Major League Soccer games are broadcasted on Apple TV with MLS Season Pass.
For more Real Salt Lake coverage and analysis, subscribe to The RSL Show and follow them on Instagram.
You can find KSL Sports coverage of Real Salt Lake here.
Take us with you wherever you go.
Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X and Instagram and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
