MLS: Dallas FC 1 Real Salt Lake 1

Real Salt Lake held Dallas FC to a 1-1 draw away from home in the MLS on Wednesday.

Salt Lake went equal on points with Western Conference leaders San Jose Earthquakes on 16 points, as they earned a draw at FC Dallas Stadium in Texas.

Brek Shea struck a first-half penalty for Dallas, before Emiliano Bonfigli equalised for visiting Salt Lake in the 72nd minute.

Dallas earned a spot-kick in the opening moments of first half stoppage time to take the lead. Shea knocked it past Nick Rimando after a Tony Beltran handball was called in the box.

Real Salt Lake came out in the second half much more aggressive and fine-tuned.

That paid off midway through the second half, as RSL evened it up thanks to a goal by Bonfigli. The rookie forward had just come on a substitute three minutes prior to scoring the tying goal, the first of his career.

Real Salt Lake nearly broke the game open with a break away just minutes after the goal. Alvaro Saborio made his way on an unmarked run towards the net, but Shea caught up to the Costa Rican forward, allowing goalkeeper Chris Seitz to break up the attack.

With the draw, FC Dallas moves into a tie for third place in the Western Conference with Vancouver at 11 points. The Hoops will play their third game in seven days, against the LA Galaxy on Saturday.

Real Salt Lake – now level on points with San Jose – will return home to Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday to take on Toronto FC.

Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman said his side were slow out of the blocks, but managed to fight hard to earn a point.

“I feel we really came out slow. The first 10-15 minutes, we really had to survive. But our guys dug deep and were able to. With Real Salt Lake missing (Jamison) Olave, we really worked on our crosses. That caused the penalty that put us ahead,” he said.

“When Carlos (Rodriguez) went down due to injury, that seemed to take a lot out of our players. In the second half, we came out better and did fine. But I was hoping to get Jackson on in the last 15 minutes, but he came on as an emergency sub for Carlos much earlier than that.”