FC Dallas looks to continue RSL's troubles

Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas both got a glimpse at their future in their most recent matches.

Both clubs fielded multiple homegrown players ahead of their clash in Utah on Saturday. Salt Lake had six homegrown players in its first XI in a 2-1 loss to Los Angeles FC last weekend. Dallas trotted out five homegrown players in the starting lineup for the fourth time in club history during a 2-1 win over Colorado over the weekend.

Major League Soccer saw it as a watershed moment highlighting the league's growth. For the two clubs, it's simply part of their identity. Real Salt Lake (1-2-1) has signed 18 former academy players at one point or another. FC Dallas (2-1-1) has added 23 former academy players to past and current rosters.

"It is a big thing on the one hand, but on the other hand that's the club that we are," RSL coach Mike Petke told the Deseret News. "We are built from within."

Both teams turned to academy products with regular starters missing because of international team duty.

The results turned out much better for Dallas. It produced 15 shots despite struggling to control possession over a full 90 minutes -- including a game-winner from Ryan Hollingshead in the 82nd minute. Playing aggressive and pushing the attack paid off.

"I thought from the first whistle, we were more engaged to get forward, to be vertical, to beat lines," Dallas coach Luchi Gonzalez told the Dallas Morning News. "We probably gave up some possession numbers that we would like to continue to dominate, but we gained in terms of turning lines and getting numbers forward, getting shots, shots on target."

Coming home should help Salt Lake shore up a porous defense that hurt the club in back-to-back road losses. RSL surrendered a total of seven goals against LAFC and DC United. The Utah club has scored just three goals while allowing eight over four matches.

Only Portland and San Jose have a worse goal differential among MLS teams in the first month of the season.

--Field Level Media