This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Frisco, Texas • The time to beat Real Salt Lake is early.
When FC Dallas' Roland Lamah scored in the eighth minute of Saturday night's game at Toyota Stadium, it came as no surprise – it marked the ninth time in 16 games this season that RSL had allowed a goal in the first 15 minutes of a match.
That's easily the most in Major League Soccer, three more than Minnesota United. Salt Lake's defense is also the league's worst in the opening 30 minutes – Lamah's goal in the 22nd was the 13th conceded in that span, again three more than Minnesota. And the MLS-record five goals given up in Saturday's first half raised RSL's league-worst total to 21.
RSL and Minnesota are the only two MLS teams allowing more than one first-half goal per game – RSL at 1.31 per game and Minnesota at 1.14.
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Fatigue showing • For the second consecutive week, RSL is completing a stretch of three games in eight days. The effect of that grueling schedule was evident, as RSL allowed at least five goals in each of its past two games.
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Texas troubles continue • Salt Lake's frustration in Texas has reached new depths. The defeat dropped the club's record in the Lone Star State to 3-25-3 in all competitions, and Saturday's game joined Wednesday's 5-1 thrashing at Houston among the five most lopsided road losses in RSL history.