Real Salt Lake still can't win a match in Dallas

Published: Sunday, July 18 2010 12:32 a.m. MDT

RSL keeper Nick Rimando dives at a Dallas shot during the team's 2-0 loss to FC Dallas Saturday.

Associated Press

FRISCO, Texas — It's safe to say Real Salt Lake's chances of beating FC Dallas in Texas were never better than they were Saturday night.

The defending MLS champions — who have an 0-7 all-time record in Dallas — entered the match on a franchise record 10-game unbeaten streak. And keeper Nick Rimando hadn't allowed a goal in 498 minutes.

On the other hand, FC Dallas had not only its seven-game home-win streak over RSL working in its favor, but it was unbeaten in its last five matches. And the temperature was 101 degrees at kickoff.

It all came to an end for RSL, except for the losing streak in Dallas.

Brek Shea snuck the ball past Rimando in the 69th minute, and Atiba Haris scored in the 74th minute give FC Dallas a 2-0 victory over RSL — the visitors' first loss since April 24.

"We need to move forward. We need to forget this game as soon as possible," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "My biggest concern is how the players view it and whether or not they can move on quickly. We haven't lost a game in a long time so it feels brand new."

Rimando's streak of scoreless minutes came to an end at 566 — a team record and the third-longest scoreless stretch for an MLS goalkeeper in league history.

"We wanted to get a result here. That was something we wanted to do even if it was a tie, but it wasn't our day," Rimando said. "We got our (winning streak) from our hard work. Today, we worked hard, and it grounded us a little bit to know that these next couple of games we need to make some points up to catch the leaders."

RSL (9-4-3) had a chance to record the equalizer in the 74th minute, but Nate Borchers' redirect sailed high. Moments later, Atiba Harris ripped one past Rimando for FC Dallas' final tally of the match.

The clean sheet for FC Dallas keeper Kevin Hartman was his fifth of the season and third in FC Dallas' six-match unbeaten streak.

With the loss, RSL remains all alone in second place in the Western Conference with 30 points. They're six points behind conference-leading Los Angeles, and the Galaxy can extend their lead in a match Sunday against D.C. United.

FC Dallas (6-2-7) inches closer to RSL with 25 points.

RSL came under a flurry of FC Dallas attacks early in the match, and Rimando remained unscathed. An FC Dallas free kick was deflected wide by Rimando in the ninth minute, and the ensuing corner kick resulted in a George John header off the cross bar.

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