FC Dallas 2-1 RSL: Real misery continues

In search of their longest winning streak in nearly a year, FC Dallas could not have picked a better opponent.  Arturo Alvarez and Chris Gbandi scored goals as Dallas maintained its recent dominance over Real Salt Lake, posting a 2-1 victory at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday.

Dallas, which has scored 13 goals to rank among the league leaders, is on a three-game winning streak for the first time since July 8-22, 2006. Dallas is 7-2-1 all-time against Real.  Alvarez scored his first goal of the season on a spectacular play in the first half for Dallas. He deked two RSL defenders on the left side and fired a left-to-right kick past goalkeeper Nick Rimando for a 1-0 advantage.  In the 81st minute and the contest tied at 1-1, Dallas took the lead back for good as Gbandi blasted a kick to the top right corner of the goal past Rimando from 15 yards out for a 2-1 lead.  Real, which remains winless through seven contests, took advantage of a foul by Dallas defender Alex Yi midway through the second half, when he grabbed the jersey of Atiba Harris as the forward had broken away from the pack.

 Freddy Adu subsequently converted a penalty kick -- his first goal of the season -- past Dallas goalkeeper Dario Sala in the 69th minute, tying the game at 1-1 and marking the first goal on a penalty kick that Sala has allowed this season.  Dallas has defeated RSL in all five meetings at Pizza Hut Park.