RSL Rally from 3-0 Down to Draw FCD

FC Dallas 3-3 Real Salt Lake

FRISCO, TX–Despite going down 3-0 by the 60th minute, and despite a pair of howlers from Zac MacMath, Real Salt Lake managed to overcome all of that to snatch a point at Toyota Stadium in a 3-3 draw with FC Dallas. RSL maintain a four-point lead atop the Western Conference while FCD maintain 12th in the West.

The madness began just before halftime when an Asier Illarramendi sent a curling ball into the box and MacMath let it go through his hands and into the net to put the hosts ahead. More hilarity, or misfortune depending on your point of view, ensued in the 57th minute when MacMath inexplicably came out towards the center line to deal with a potential counter attack. MacMath would miskick and then Patrick Delgado would have an empty net to make it 2-0. It seemed like the flood gates opened for FCD two minutes later when Paul Arriola beat MacMath far post to make it 3-0.

However, the comeback would start just as quickly. Diego Luna pulled one back in the 61st minute. Then, substitute Anderson Julio launched a rocket that found the upper 90 in the 73rd minute that made it 3-2. Finally, another substitute, Nelson Palacios would see his shot from outside the area take a deflection through a host of players and into the net eight minutes into second half stoppage time to snatch a point in one of the wildest matches in MLS this season.

Both teams combined for 35 shots (19 on target) and a combined expected goals of 5.4 (1.9 for FCD and 3.4 for RSL).

Both teams will be on the road Wednesday night. Dallas will be at LA Galaxy, while RSL will be at Seattle (both 9:30pm CT, Apple TV).

For more of Eric Guzman’s photos, please click on the link to his gallery