Playing in the wake of the U.S. National Team's historic game, it was going to be a letdown of sorts when Real Salt Lake played FC Dallas in the second game of the doubleheader Saturday evening.
After the United States beat Costa Rica 3-0 in a World Cup Qualifier, Salt Lake (3-6-2) failed to live up to the buzz created from the opening game.
FC Dallas (7-1-3) won 2-0 and scored once in each half as the Western Conference leaders comfortably dispatched Real on an evening that saw Salt Lake midfielder Nik Besagno become the second-youngest person to appear in a Major League Soccer match.
On the heels of two straight defeats, RSL had shuffled its lineup and formation for the Dallas match, switching to a 3-5-2. The most notable addition to that lineup was the inclusion of 16-year-old Besagno in midfield. He debuted at 16 years and 201 days.
"I thought he did well," said coach John Ellinger. "He showed that he doesn't play like a 16-year-old. He plays like a man."
D.C. United's Freddy Adu is the youngest player to appear in an MLS match. He played his first match when he was 14.
Besagno beat Adu's teammate Santino Quaranta, who debuted in 2001 when he was 16 years and 207 days.
He seemed to actually settle down after receiving a yellow card in the 35th minute and played fairly well before he was subbed out in the 69th minute.
"The yellow card got him into (the game)," said Ellinger.
Though he rarely gets scoring chances from his holding-midfield position, Besagno actually had one of Salt Lake's best opportunities of the game.
From an Andy Williams' corner kick, Besagno's free header sailed over the bar.
"It was close," said Besagno.
It took Dallas 15 minutes to feel out Salt Lake, but the Western Conference leaders dominated the remainder of the first half after that point.
D.J. Countess did well to tip away a shot from Abe Thompson in the 22nd minute, but the rebound fell to Ronnie O'Brien, who rifled the ball into the open net.
After more pressure, including a shot that came off the crossbar, FC Dallas doubled its lead in the 58th minute. This time O'Brien's well-taken effort was saved by Countess, but the ball again fell to a Dallas player, Abe Thompson, and he buried his shot.
In an effort to create more offense, Ellinger had shifted to a formation with three defenders — Rusty Pierce, Nelson Akwari and Brian Dunseth.
Pierce, who strained a hamstring, was substituted in the 61st minute for Matt Behncke.
"There were moments when we were (struggling defensively)," said Akwari.
"Other than that, we did a good job."
Jason Kreis nearly scored just 62 seconds into the game. The ball was played to the forward on the right side, but his shot from an acute angle crashed into the side-netting.
Clint Mathis' well-taken free kick just two minutes later also came close for Real Salt Lake. Roughly 30 yards off the line, Mathis fired a shot that skimmed the right post and went wide.
ENDLINES: FC Dallas forward Carlos Ruiz was expected to make the trip to Salt Lake this weekend. The striker had been listed as questionable because of injury throughout the week, and he didn't even travel with FC Dallas . . . Real has now gone three games without scoring.
E-mail: drasmussen@desnews.com