Albert Rusnak's late goal lifts Real Salt Lake over FC Dallas

Albert Rusnak's stunning goal in the 90th minute allowed visiting Real Salt Lake to roar from behind and earn three key points via a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas Wednesday in a crucial Western Conference match in Frisco, Texas.

Real Salt Lake (13-12-6, 45 points) jumped into seventh place and above the playoff line in the West. Minnesota United also has 45 points, but RSL hold the tiebreaker.

RSL has three matches left while Minnesota United and Los Angeles FC, who have 44 points, each have two matches to go.

Rusnak's tally, on a left-footed shot from deep in the box into the bottom right corner, came after an assist from Justin Meram and completed RSL's comeback over the match's final 10 minutes.

Matt Hedges got Dallas on the scoreboard in the 20th minute, jumping high to head Justin Che's pass into the goalmouth and past RSL goalkeeper David Ochoa, who came far off his line but was late getting to Che's assist. It was Hedges' first regular-season goal since Oct. 6, 2019.

FC Dallas outshot the visitors 15-3 in the first half and placed five shots on goal to just one for RSL. Ochoa made four saves in the half to keep Salt Lake in the game.

Damir Kreilach evened the match for Real Salt Lake in the 80th minute, lunging between a pair of FCD defenders to get his right foot on a crossing pass from Meram and placing the ball just out of the reach to the left of Dallas keeper Jimmy Maurer.

FC Dallas (6-15-11, 29 points) have long been eliminated from the postseason and are in 12th place in the 13-team Western Conference. FCD remain winless over their past 10 matches (six losses and four draws) and haven't won since Aug. 29.

RSL captured the season series with FC Dallas, winning both at home and on the road after a draw in Texas early in the year.