By Will Martin
To the casual fan of MLS Soccer this is the time of year when scoreboard watching becomes evident and of the utmost.
With only three weeks left in the 2013 season points are the key to advancing. Anything less than victory and you can start looking ahead to next year.
You can also add FC Dallas to that list.
On the road in Utah to play Real Salt Lake (15-10-6 52 points) Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium the FCD (10-10-11 41 points) and Real Salt Lake would play to a 1-1 tie and earn a point in the standings. Not nearly enough to remain in the playoff chase in the Western Conference for FC Dallas.
Alvaro Saborio would get the scoring started in the 60th minute when taking on three defenders and somehow being able to get a one timer past the hands and body of Chris Seitz for an early 1-0 lead for Real Salt Lake.
12 minutes later Kenny Cooper would answer back after a substitution in the 71st minute brought JeVaughn Watson into the game. It took getting past Tony Beltran before feeding Kenny Cooper for a net maker and game tying goal past RSL goalie Rimando.
In the 17th minute of play FC Dallas enjoyed a one man advantage after a red card was issued for Abdouly Mansally for a hard charge on Jackson, the sixth of the season for RSL. FC Dallas had its opportunities yet to no avail.
Real now goes to Portland for a match and a chance at the Supporters Shield on October 19th. Javier Morales will not be in the mix as he will serve a suspension due to a yellow card issued in the 69th minute of Saturday night’s game. FC Dallas will come home to host the Chicago Fire. The Fire still in the Eastern Conference playoff chase two points back of the Philadelphia Union.
The home finale for FC Dallas will follow on the 19th when the Seattle Sounders come to Frisco to close out 2013. The fruits of a seven month season now slowly starts to labor toward the playoffs. Expect a few surprises along the way. The bigger picture for now is whether or not Schellas Hyndman returns in 2014? My guess is maybe not. I keep hearing the name Marco Ferruzzi getting bounced around for a coaching possibility.
Dallas Til I Die!
