Boasting a stingy defense and an adept scorer, FC Dallas are set to host Real Salt Lake for an MLS Western Conference rivalry clash Saturday night in Frisco, Texas.

Dallas (3-2-2, 11 points) blanked Inter Miami CF 1-0 their last time out, which also meant their first road victory of the campaign. Jesus Ferreira’s first-half goal was the decider in that contest, as he became the youngest player in league history to deposit 40 career regular-season goals.

“It’s a great recognition but that is something that I did not have in the back of my mind heading into the game,” Ferreira, 22, said of the accomplishment. “I always say that I want to break records with this team, but I am happy and proud of this team. This group has pushed me and helped me get to that position of where I am now. I am happy to be the holder of that title.”

Real Salt Lake (2-4-0, 6 points) squared off with Charlotte FC last Saturday, earning a 3-1 victory with all three markers coming in a six-minute second-half flurry. Pablo Ruiz, Anderson Julio and Jefferson Savarino all got on the board after their side faced a one-goal halftime hole.

It marked the club’s second-fastest three-goal outburst in its history. Julio spoke earlier this week about wanting to keep on pushing in the right direction.

“We are all motivated and looking for more of what we had on Saturday against Charlotte,” Julio said. “We’re all going in with a strong mentality, a positive mentality and we’re ready to continue this. We know we haven’t been in the best of positions and looking to continuing reversing that.”

Real Salt Lake has earned a win and four draws in its last five visits to FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium. That stretch dates back six years.

–Field Level Media