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Real hopes to catch a break against Dallas

Fri 9th, May 2008

Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis finally had enough this week, criticizing officials for calls that "are consistently going against us."

Kreis was rewarded with a one-game suspension and a $1,000 fine. He won't be able to coach Saturday night's match against FC Dallas at Rice-Eccles Stadium from the bench, but he hopes his rant will level the playing field.

"I feel the players are doing what they need to, the coaching staff is doing what they do but being wronged by critical referee decisions is unacceptable," Kreis told the Deseret Morning News.

Kreis went on his rant after Saturday's 2-2 tie against the Los Angeles Galaxy when according to the coach, Real Salt Lake was on the wrong side of at least one bad call. He also pointed out several calls so far this year that he felt unfairly went against his club.

Real Salt Lake has just one win in its first six matches, but it's also one of two teams in Major League Soccer's Western Conference yet to lose at home.

Kreis hopes Real can snap a three-game winless streak against Dallas, which is tied with the Colorado Rapids atop the conference.

"When we're at home we're going to go for wins and when we're away we're going to go for wins," Kreis said. "I think that's going to be the mentality of this team."

Real Salt Lake hasn't had trouble scoring this year. It has nine goals, which is more than six other teams, including FC Dallas.

Kyle Beckerman, Kenny Deuchar and Fabian Espindola each have two goals. Javier Morales has helped set up the goals, registering four assists - which is tied with L.A.'s David Beckham and the Columbus Crew's Guillermo Barros Schelotto for the league lead.

"It's just a statistic. I'm just trying to do my best for the team and trying to get us a win at home," Morales said.

RSL's defense, though, that's another story. Since veteran Eddie Pope retired, Real has yet to solidify its defense. Real has allowed 11 goals and is one of five teams to allow 10 or more this season.

FC Dallas has allowed just five goals this season - or less than one per game. No other team in the Western Conference has allowed fewer goals.

Dallas remained solid on defense last weekend even with starter Adrian Serioux out injured. Anthony Wallace was given his first start of the year on the left and teamed with Drew Moor and Duilio Davino in a 0-0 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes.

"Defensively, we're very much concentrated on working as a unit of 11 players. Obviously with three in the back, we've just got to be solid and keep the guys in front of us," Moor said.

Dallas is the only Western Conference team unbeaten on the road - one win and two draws. But after starting the year with a four-match unbeaten streak, FCD hasn't scored in its last two.

Forward Kenny Cooper leads the team with four goals and Arturo Alvarez has two and the team needs those two to get back on track on the artificial surface in Utah.

"It was not our best night offensively," Dallas coach Steve Morrow said after the draw at San Jose.