This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Frisco, Texas • All the sexiness has come out of this one.
Oh, sure, Real Salt Lake is still going to play FC Dallas at Pizza Hut Park on Sunday, in its rematch with the team that knocked it out of the Major League Soccer playoffs last season, in a city where it has never so much as taken a point.
But with both RSL's Javier Morales and FC Dallas' David Ferreira sidelined by devastating injuries, neither team is quite the marquee attraction that it would have been otherwise — though the Hoops have fared better without their star playmaker.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it's just a battle," RSL's Nat Borchers said. "I don't know that there's going to be a whole lot of good soccer being played."
No doubt, RSL would be thrilled just to escape with a draw.
It has lost all nine games it has ever played here, and has strained to play with its usual style and flair lately, scoring just once while going 1-1-1 in its past three league games — the latest a scoreless draw at home in its first full game without Morales.
Coach Jason Kreis has expressed concerns about the team's confidence and energy — it started its season far earlier than usual, remember, on account of the CONCACAF Champions League — and shortened training sessions during the week in hopes of rejuvenating his players.
"Every match I feel like we've been down there, we haven't had the right spirit, the right mentality, the right energy level, the right attitude for the match," he said. "It's something that, right now, you wouldn't think would be a problem for us. We're going down there with hopefully a bit of a chip on our shoulder and something to prove. And we need to improve week by week right now, with our situation."
Won't be easy, though.
While RSL has strained to regain its footing, the Hoops have fared quite well since losing Ferreira, the reigning league most valuable player. They're 3-0-1 in the four games since he was injured, and have allowed just one goal in that span.
The Hoops also eliminated RSL last season on the strength of a home victory in the playoffs, though midfielder Ned Grabavoy said too much has happened to the team since then for the opportunity to exact revenge to provide much motivation.
"We're a team that's not playing its best soccer right now," he said. "So that should be motivation enough."
Meanwhile, the team is still searching for the best way to replace Morales, which could mean a lineup change against FC Dallas.
Midfielder Collen Warner started in place of Morales in the scoreless draw with Houston last weekend, and earned only tepid reviews. That could clear the way for veteran Andy Williams to get a chance against the Hoops, with Kreis hoping that a single player can step up and claim the position until Morales returns.
"I would like to see somebody step forward and say, 'This is now mine, I'm going to take the reins here and own it,' " Kreis said. "I think you can rotate. I think we could be successful with just a rotation. But I'd really like to see one person get in there and make a stand so everybody can be comfortable around him and know exactly where he's going to be all the time."
RSL at FC Dallas
P At Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Texas
Kickoff • 5 p.m.
TV • KMYU 2.2 / Comcast 22 / Dish 12
Radio • 700 AM, 1600 AM, 106.1 FM
Records • RSL 5-1-1, FC Dallas 5-3-2
All-time regular-season series • FC Dallas leads, 11-6-1
Last meeting • FC Dallas 2, RSL 1 (Oct. 30, 2010)
About RSL • Aiming to snap a nine-game losing streak at FC Dallas, it has scored only once in its past three games, but allowed only one goal in its past five. …
About the Hoops • Riding a five-game unbeaten streak, they have moved ahead of RSL into second place in the MLS Western Conference.