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Sandy • "I've never seen anything like that."

That was the general reaction to one of the more extraordinary moments in Real Salt Lake's history. Forward Robbie Findley just laughed when describing seeing Alvaro Saborio running onto the field, finding a spot in the 18-yard box and putting his head to the ball and putting it in. The 77th-minute goal in RSL's 2-1 win over FC Dallas Saturday night sent the sellout crowd into a split-second frenzy.

It was one of the loudest moments I've ever at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Surreal is just another one of many overused words in sports speak, but Saborio scoring 13 seconds into his return after missing 118 days due to a fractured foot was the definition. The 75th career goal from RSL's all-time leading scorer should go down as one of the most dramatic goals scored in the club's 10-year history. When he saw Saborio run on, Javier Morales said post-game that the notion of Saborio scoring a sudden goal crept into his mind.

"It's kind of funny," Morales said. "I am happy for him because I think he deserved the goal. It's always better when Sabo is in the box."

After missing out on a return trip to the World Cup with Costa Rica, Saborio's last three months and 26 days featured heartbreak, then a surgery, then a walking boot and eventually walking and jogging in a pool before taking jogs around America First Field or Rio Tinto Stadium. So when he was given the nod to slip on a jersey and prepare to enter, the crowd built up toward a slow roar. It only managed to die down for a few seconds because Saborio's spot was found and he glanced a header to the far post without every truly breaking his stride.

"Yeah, it was unbelievable," Saborio said post-game. "I have never felt this feeling before, so I am very happy because I have been injured for a long time, and now I can help the team with goals."

I asked RSL coach Jeff Cassar if he had a target minute or a target scoreline that would've proved ideal to include Saborio into the equation Saturday night. Cassar said there wasn't.

"It was a game that we wanted three points in," Cassar said. "They were clogging the middle of the field on us with their formation, making it hard to break them down. So what can you do — maybe it's service from the outside, maybe it's a set play. Again, it's bringing on a player who commands respect immediately when he steps on the field, so if they can zero in on him maybe that allows somebody else to be more productive, and he did that."

Where does Saborio's goal 13 seconds into his return from a lengthy hiatus rank among individual moments in the club's history? It has to be up there. The 32-year-old striker wasn't exactly out there hobbling a la Willis Reed, but just four full days of training, Saborio announced his presence with some authority.

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#JaimeWatch ends • Saborio and Findley stole the headlines. The two timely goals came in a match in which new Designated Player Sebastian Jaime made his RSL and MLS debut in the 67th minute. Jaime arrived in Salt Lake City on Aug. 22 and has been working on becoming versed in the tactical side of RSL's approach.

Cassar said after seeing Jaime in scrimmages in practice, it was nice to finally get a chance to see the 27-year-old Argentine forward in full 11-vs.-11 action.

"He's an extremely intelligent player, he makes great runs," Cassar said. "I think when he has more space to operate in he's going to be more effective. It seemed like him and Sabo had a nice relationship in a brief time, and that's promising."

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Findley snaps cold streak • Did Findley's 31st-minute goal feel just like any other goal he's scored in his career?

Answer: "No."

In what has been a difficult year for the 29-year-old striker, Findley's 2014 breakthrough proved to be a large weight off his shoulders. He scored in RSL's U.S. Open Cup loss to NASL side Atlanta Silverbacks on June 14, but wasn't able to find the back of the net in league play until Saturday night.

"It definitely felt good," he explained. "Just like you said, it's been tough coming back from the surgery in December. Been working hard and staying at it. A couple of weeks I hit the post, and the crossbar another weekend, so it was coming. I'm trying to stay positive. Thankfully enough it fell into my feet. I just tried to focus on taking a good touch and putting it in there."

Cassar said Findley had one of his best weeks of training all year prior to the FC Dallas match.

"He's been sniffing around it now," Cassar said. "I thought him and Olmes really worked hard, the first half especially. We wore them down and that allows us to make a move and bring somebody on to finish it out."

The goal made Findley RSL's second leading scorer all time with 36 career goals with the club. It was his first regular-season goal since last August and first since scoring in the second leg of the Western Conference final series against Portland last November.

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CenturyLink looms • Staying within striking distance. That's where RSL is after earning three points against FC Dallas. The victory put Dallas four points behind RSL for the No. 3 spot in the West and RSL within five of league leaders Seattle. Next up? A trip to CenturyLink Field against Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins, Osvaldo Alonso and the rest of the rolling Sounders.

A win against Seattle Friday night would put RSL two points behind the Sounders in the West race.

"The Supporters' Shield is going to happen by us taking care of business," Cassar said. "We have a huge game coming up against Seattle. I think if we get a really good result there we can start putting ourselves into the mix for that. But I really want to keep these guys focused on one game at a time, taking care of business, and not trying to look too far ahead."

Morales said it feels good to remain in the conversation for the West crown and Supporters' Shield race.

"Now we have another opportunity to go a little bit higher on the top," he said. "Playing Seattle in their house is going to be huge for us if we beat them."

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-Chris Kamrani

Twitter: @chriskamrani