SANDY, Utah — In a tightly contested match, Luciano Acosta found the back of the net in first-half stoppage time, securing a 1-0 triumph for FC Dallas against Real Salt Lake. This victory came after Real Salt Lake was reduced to ten men following a red card issued to rookie Ariath Piol in the 23rd minute. The match took place Saturday night at America First Field, where Dallas relied heavily on the stellar debut performance of goalkeeper Michael Collodi.
Piol, a 20-year-old forward, was unable to make a significant impact for Real Salt Lake, as he was sent off in his fourth career start, leaving his team short-handed for the majority of the game. Despite the disadvantage, Dallas did not capitalize until late in the first half. Acosta made his mark in the seventh minute of stoppage time, scoring unassisted due to a timely deflection, marking his second goal in his inaugural season with the club and 74th in his career. This accomplishment adds to his illustrious record, although he remains shy of increasing his 97 career assists.
Michael Collodi, a 23-year-old homegrown talent from Plano, Texas, showcased a commanding presence in goal, securing two critical saves to maintain a clean sheet for Dallas. Collodi stepped up in place of the regular starter, Maarten Paes, who was absent on international duty with Indonesia.
This match saw Real Salt Lake striving to build momentum after a positive 2-1 outcome against the Houston Dynamo, which ended a nine-game winless streak on the road. However, Dallas’s resilience shone through as they continued their strong form in Utah, where they now have a record of 10-13-5, having clinched victory in three of their last four visits.
Under the guidance of first-year manager Eric Quill, Dallas has demonstrated a formidable away form, achieving a 2-0-1 record on the road despite setbacks at home. Their next challenge will be hosting Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, while Real Salt Lake will look to recover as they travel to face Minnesota United.
