Real Salt Lake snaps 10-game slide with 3-0 victory over FC Dallas

By Jeremy Wilkins

July 26, 2005 | SALT LAKE CITY -- Real Salt Lake snapped a 10-game winless stretch with a powerful 3-0 shutout against FC Dallas on Saturday night in front of 20,218 fans at Rice Eccles Stadium.

Midfielder Clint Mathis achieved his best game of the season with an assist and a goal in the 30th minute on a free kick down the middle of the field from 37 yards out.

"For some reason, I was just feeling good to take a shot," Mathis said when asked about his goal on FC Dallas goalkeeper Scott Garlick.

Mathis' assist to defender Brian Dunseth in the third minute led to Dunseth scoring the earliest goal in RSL history and also set the tone for the game.

In the 25th minute, forward Jordan Cilia, headed the ball off a free kick from Andy Williams to score his second goal in as many games.

"I think there might be a few more starts in my future now," said Cilia, who had his second straight start and third overall for the season.

In a game full of strong performances from several RSL players and strong playing from the team as a whole, RSL goalkeeper D.J. Countess was no exception. Playing through injuries to his back and hamstring which he sustained in the second half, Countess made seven amazing saves for the game.

The victory for coach John Ellinger and his team improved RSL's record to 4-11-4 and dropped FC Dallas to 10-4-4, just in time to break for the MLS All-Star Game next weekend.

"It's huge," Dunseth said, "We had to earn it. We had to earn five days off."

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