Real Salt Lake certainly giving home fans their money's worth

SANDY — Nat Borchers called it a roller coaster and Ned Grabavoy called it mayhem.

As for Jason Kreis, he simply said, "Oh, to be a season ticket holder right now. We're giving them their money's worth for sure.

Real Salt Lake certainly is. The final 31 minutes of Saturday's 3-2 victory over FC Dallas may have been one of the most exciting half hours in Rio Tinto Stadium history. From a volume stand point it definitely was. The five goals scored in the final 31 minutes on Saturday is the most goals during a similar stretch in Rio Tinto Stadium history.

"Another crazy game in our stadium. I'm hoping for a calm one at some point where we put somebody away," said Kreis.

As thrilled as the players were afterward following Borchers' dramatic 93rd minute winner, there were mixed emotions indeed.

"To finish like that is exciting and great, but when you're out there and you give up leads like that it's absolutely deflating especially when you work that hard in the game to not give them anything," said Grabavoy.

RSL built both a 1-0 and 2-1 lead against FC Dallas on Saturday, but squandered the lead each time. It wasn't a rarity either. A month ago against Toronto, Real Salt Lake led 2-1 in the second half only to concede an equalizer in the final 15 minutes.

Just like against Dallas, it was fortunate to bag a late winner, but Will Johnson said that's not exactly a formula for success.

"Yeah, obviously, anytime you win it's good. It's exciting the way we're winning at the moment. We probably just need to be a little more professional finishing up games because we can't rely on an injury-time winner every week. We just have to get a little more professional in finishing, but I'm thrilled to win."

Johnson would've loved to see RSL kill the game off like it did two weeks earlier in Seattle when Fabian Espindola's 51st-minute goal was all the scoring necessary to secure the three points.

Saturday's 3-2 win was much more dramatic though after one of the most exciting second halves in team history, particularly at home. Incredibly, the five second half goals isn't the most in Rio Tinto Stadium history. Back in April of 2009, RSL scored six second half goals in a 6-0 thrashing of New England.

Real Salt Lake returns to action quickly this Tuesday against Minnesota Stars FC (NASL) in a U.S. Open Cup third-round match. Kreis joked after Saturday's match that he'd like a calm game at some point, and realistically RSL should have no problem putting away the minor league Stars.

email: jedward@desnews.com