Weather-delayed match between FCD and RSL ends in scoreless draw

  

By JOSE M. ROMERO

Sunday's FC Dallas-Real Salt Lake match might as well have ended in the 83rd minute, when lightning and a torrential downpour forced a lengthy weather delay at Pizza Hut Park in suburban Dallas. 

There was no score then, and there would be no score over the final minutes of the match after it resumed about an hour and 40 minutes later. 

The two MLS Western Conference titans played to a scoreless draw, leaving a major logjam in the top half of the conference standings. FC Dallas took over second place with 18 points after the one it picked up from Sunday's draw, but RSL and two other teams, Seattle and Portland, sit tied for third at 17 points with the weekend's action complete.

FC Dallas generated most of the few scoring chances in a game marked by defensive performances. Midfielder Daniel Hernandez tried a low strike past a four-man wall on a free kick that went wide left in the 59th minute. Hernandez and RSL defender Jamison Olave exchanged some angry words in the 73rd minute after it appeared Olave took a dive on a wild leg swing from FCD's Brek Shea.

In the 82nd minute, substitute Ruben Luna took a pass from Shea and shot it over the goal. By then the rain was coming down hard, and the game was stopped due to lightning.

When it resumed, Kyle Beckerman had the best shot for a goal, but the Real Salt Lake midfielder's free kick from long range curled into FC Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman's arms in the 88th minute. RSL was fortunate to not give up a penalty kick in the 90th minute after Luna went down in the box after getting tangled wih Olave.

The first half was very evenly matched, as both teams made forays into each other's territory but came away empty. Real Salt Lake, wearing its Victory Gold kits for the fourth time ever, was kept in check in large part due to FCD's center backs, George John and Ugo Ihemelu. In fact, the only recorded shot on goal for RSL in the half came from midfielder Will Johnson, who blasted a shot from well beyond the 18-yard box that Hartman saved.

Real Salt Lake's Alvaro Saborio had a goal disallowed by an offsides call, and despite the one shot, RSL dominated in possession at halftime. 

FC Dallas had four first-half shots on goal. The best came in the 24th minute when midfielder Marvin Chavez did some nifty dribbling before passing to John in the middle. John's shot looked to be going in but Nick Rimando got to it just in time for a save.

Chavez and Fabian Castillo spearheaded FCD's attack and played well. Several balls from both teams were sent across the 6-yard box to no avail, including one from Shea in the 50th minute. 

Three minutes earlier, Rimando tipped a shot by Andrew Jacobson over the goal.