Real Salt Lake: Fired-up 2nd half lifts RSL

SANDY — For a game Real Salt Lake had called "gigantic" all week, it certainly played as if its matchup against FC Dallas was meaningless — at least for 45 minutes.

The second 45 was a different story.

Playing without passion or execution in the opening half, RSL (6-7-5, 23 points) dug itself a two-goal deficit before the break. But coming out of the locker room with a different fire, a different approach, Real was able to come back for a 4-2 victory over Dallas (4-9-5, 17 points).

"I have been involved in many games where you feel like it is a game of two halves," said RSL coach Jason Kreis. "We were utterly abysmal for 45 minutes and then extremely good for 45 minutes. The problem is, our team keeps showing what they are capable of, and they are going to be held to that …"

Things certainly weren't pretty in the beginning for the 18,822 fans in attendance. Former RSL striker Jeff Cunningham hit a milestone with a score in the 13th minute for Dallas. Goal No. 108 of his MLS career — tying him with RSL coach Jason Kreis — was not a thing of beauty.

First, Will Johnson turned the ball over to the Jamaican forward. Next, Nat Borchers didn't go after Cunningham. Instead, he backed off, allowing a shot, and finally, Nick Rimando was either wrong-footed or didn't see the ball, not moving at all as it bounced into the net.

The second Dallas goal was an example of the beautiful game. After several nice passes, Dave van den Bergh — the former New York Red Bull who scored the game-winning goal against RSL in last year's MLS Western Conference Final — slotted a ball home for the 2-0 scoreline at the break.

"We really didn't need to say anything to each other," said Johnson, who was in his first game back with the team after playing for Canada at the Gold Cup. Johnson also received word during the game that he was named to the MLS All-Star game after New England's Shalrie Joseph was ruled out. "We knew what we needed to do. We knew we didn't play well that first half, but we also knew we are capable of scoring a lot of goals in a half and we just needed to get it done."

A different team came out of the locker room for Real.

Yura Movsisyan entered as a substitute and immediately made an impact. His hustle and runs put pressure on the defense unlike anything the squad mustered in the first half.