FC Dallas Draws With Real Salt Lake

FC Dallas moved one step closer to securing its first-ever Supporters Shield in Major League Soccer, putting together a strong defensive effort to force a 0-0 draw with Real Salt Lake on Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.

Dallas (15-8-8) picked up points for the fifth time in its last seven games in Utah after it outshot Real Salt Lake 14-8 and held the home team to two shots on goal.

Real Salt Lake (12-10-9) was shut out for the third consecutive game — with the last two coming at home. Real has been blanked nine times this season and has gone 270 minutes without scoring a goal.

Dallas nearly got on the board in the 38th minute. Midfielder Walker Zimmerman stretched out for the header just outside the top of the 6-yard box and snapped it directly down the middle at Nick Rimando. The RSL goalkeeper dived to his left and secured the ball before it crossed the line.

Zimmerman made an even better defensive play in the 44th minute to keep Real Salt Lake off the board.

Real forward Olmes Garcia tracked down a long ball and sprinted ahead of a trailing defender, looking to create a one-on-one opportunity against goalkeeper Chris Seitz. Zimmerman took a perfect angle and slid in front of Garcia with a timely tackle to break up the play.

Seitz, a former Real Salt Lake goalkeeper, finished with five saves for FC Dallas, including a diving stop in the 86th minute on a hard right-footed shot by Joao Plata.

Earlier in the second half, Seitz denied Jordan Allen’s quick shot on goal after Allen beat Dallas FC’s Maynor Figueroa outside the box.