Austin FC betters Real Salt Lake on back of Dominguez brace

Cecilio Dominguez scored two goals to power Austin FC to a 2-1 victory over visiting Real Salt Lake on Saturday afternoon.

Austin won for the second time in three matches and provided an obstacle in the Real Salt Lake's run to the postseason. Even with Saturday's victory, expansion Austin remains at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, two points in arrears of 12th place Houston Dynamo with six matches remaining.

Real Salt Lake began the weekend in fifth place in the West, one spot and four points out of a guaranteed first-round home playoff match, but Saturday's loss puts RSL in jeopardy of dropping in the standings depending on the remainder of the weekend's results.

The visitors were outshot 17-8 and managed just two shots on target in the loss.

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Dominguez got Austin on the board in the 17th minute, cleaning up a rebound after a shot by Sebastian Driussi was blocked by goalkeeper David Ochoa. Dominguez swept in from Ochoa's left to make short work of the opportunity, placing his left-footed shot in the bottom right corner of the goal.

Austin added to its lead in the 55th minute as Dominguez completed his brace by again being in the right place at the right time.

Driussi lofted a pass from near the sideline over two RSL defenders and to a streaking Diego Fagundez, who outraced the defense while carrying the ball deep into the box and crossing it to Dominguez for the easy goal.

Real Salt Lake cut the deficit in half nine minutes later. Rubio Rubin directed a perfect one-touch pass to Damir Kreilach, whose powerful right-footed shot from the center of the box beat Austin keeper Brad Stuver to the bottom left corner.

Real Salt Lake captured the only other match between the teams this season, winning 1-0 at home on Aug. 14.