Match review: Solans breaks club rookie record in loss to Dallas FC

Real Salt Lake fell to FC Dallas in a 3-4 loss on Wednesday night in Sandy, Utah. The game closed out a five-game homestand over the course of 15 days at America First Field.

Real Salt Lake has been winless in MLS play since May, but were on a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions throughout a congested August — until tonight. The match was RSL’s first since news broke of Utah-native Zavier Gozo’s transferring to English Premier League’s Crystal Palace.

Solans breaks RSL rookie record, Guilavogui and Luna find the net

Despite the loss, RSL’s match against Dallas saw multiple milestones for the club. When the team was down by two early in the first half, they stayed aggressive, finding success when Diego Luna sent the ball to Sergi Solans who notched the Claret-and-Cobalt’s first goal of the match.

The goal marked Solans’ fifth goal in six games, with the RSL standout on a four-game consecutive match streak. The goal also gave the Spanish-forward the record for most goals scored in a season by an RSL rookie, with nine. Overall, Solans has scored nine MLS goals this season, and 13 across all competitions.

The game saw multiple contributors including RSL’s Morgan Guilavogui, who found the net in the 50th minute. Guilavogi is fresh off of scoring the game-winner in the club’s win over Juarez on Aug. 11, as well as setting up two of RSL’s four goals in a victory over Atlante on Aug. 8. The midfielder was a key player in the club qualifying for Leagues Cup Quarterfinals. Luna also found the net with a header in the 64th minute, equalizing the score 3-3 before a late Dallas goal. The last time Moon Man scored was also against Dallas on May 9.

Quotable:

“We can have a million excuses but really, no one cares, and honestly I don’t care. We’ve got to find solutions instead, and how we do that is together,” RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. “We have to dig deep and find solutions, and these moments are what define teams … We have to work, be dialed in, and learn. When we lose it’s all about lessons, and if you don’t learn the lesson, you don’t get three points.”

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Game summary

Maestroni made two starting lineup changes from the Club’s 1-1 draw versus Minnesota United last Saturday, inserting USMNT veteran DeAndre Yedlin and Guilavogui into the XI.

Dallas began forcefully, finding the net early in the match. In the 17th minute, the ball rebounded toward Dallas’ Joaquin Valiente, who rocketed a shot, giving the opponents an early 0-1 lead. Minutes later, Petar Musa received the ball, heading it into the back of the net, and upping the score 0-2 early in the first half. Minutes after back-to-back goals from the opponents, Captain made a save in the 22nd minute, preventing Dallas from lengthening the lead. RSL stayed aggressive in the attack despite the deficit, making multiple attempts on goal late in the first half.

The Club’s aggression paid off in the 38th minute when Luna took a free kick, finding Solans in the middle, who blasted the attempt in the net, making the score 1-2. Riding the goal’s momentum, Luna sent another shot over from the left side to Yedlin, who attempted a header that went just over. Despite the momentum, Dallas notched another goal in the 45th minute after Petar Musan placed another shot, upping the score 1-3 heading into halftime.

RSL returned to the second half with renewed determination, finding success in the 50th minute, when Noel Caliskan sent the ball to the left side to Guilavogui, who scored with a right-footed shot, to bring the home team within one point. In the 64th minute, Luna struck again when Guilavogui sent the ball up to Solans, who crossed from the right side of the field to Luna. The forward headed the ball into the net in the 64th minute, equalizing the score 3-3.

RSL continued to press, making attempts on goal, but were ultimately unable to convert. Dallas’ Ran Binyamin scored in the 90th minute, notching the game-winner for Dallas FC late in the game with a final score of 4-3

Up next

Real Salt Lake now turns their attention to Saturday’s match against Orlando City FC this Saturday at Inter & Co Stadium on Aug. 22, with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m. MDT. All matches are available to stream exclusively on AppleTV.