Real Salt Lake victorious thanks to late drama in Wild West encounter

Posted Sunday, May 27, 2012 by YAHOO Sport

SANDY, Utah -- A not-so-exciting first half was upstaged by thrilling second that saw Real Salt Lake emerge victorious over visiting FC Dallas by a final margin of 3-2 in front of a near-sellout crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Alvaro Saborio scored two goals and Nat Borchers put it the late winner for Salt Lake. Matt Hedges brought the visitors level for the first time and Blas Perez tied it up the second time with just five minutes to go for the Hoops. But in the end it was not enough as Borchers' dramatic strike in stoppage time sent RSL to the showers with three points.

"To be a season ticket holder right now," mused RSL head coach Jason Kreis. "We're giving them their money's worth for sure. Another crazy game in our stadium."

This one certainly didn't start out that way as neither team could find their rhythm in the first half. The disjointed nature of the first 45 was at least partially due to windy conditions that wreaked havoc on any ball played through the air, as well as both teams dealing with a number of key absences. Brek Shea was suspended for Dallas, and four RSL starters were missing with either injury or national team duty.

"It was difficult in the first half," said Real midfielder Ned Grabavoy.

But the game changed once RSL got on the board in the 59th minute thanks to Saborio, and it never stopped changing until the final whistle. Saborio's goal was answered by Hedges. Then just one minute later, Saborio scored again to put Salt Lake back on top. Then in the 85th minute, backup goalkeeper Kyle Reynish mishandled Perez' offering to level the match again. That set the stage for Borchers' heroics, and the final whistle sounded before Dallas could draw level a third time.

"It was a rollercoaster second half," said Borchers. "We scored, and we thought 1-0 would be enough. Usually it is for us. But I'm happy we didn't just settle for a point."

"I think it's great that we could show a reaction," said Grabavoy. "It happens and we've done it before lots of times."

As far as Kreis is concerned, he would be happy if it didn't happen again for a while.

"I'm hoping for a calm one at some point," said Kreis. "I'm hoping we can put somebody away."