Major League Soccer Playoffs, FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake, Leg 1: Fabian Espindola Gives RSL Early Advantage

If FC Dallas has any realistic chance of advancing, they are going to have to leave Pizza Hut Park with some sort of lead.

Fabian Espindola dealt those hopes an early blow.

Espindola got behind the Dallas defense, fought off two defenders and fired a beautiful shot past Kevin Hartman in the fifth minute for the early 1-0 lead.

Other than that, the match has been pretty even with a total of three shots being taken in the at the 29th minute mark of the match. The match has been quite physical, though, and David Ferreira has had a hard time finding much space.

Hartman is playing in his first match after a six-week layoff while nursing a knee injury he suffered during a Thierry Henry goal celebration, but there was nothing he could do to stop Espindola’s shot from outside the penalty area. Espindola received the starting nod over Robbie Findley. The two players have switched off as starters for much of the season.

Jeff Cunningham has already come on for Milton Rodriguez as a 32nd minute substitution for FC Dallas.