SANDY – Texas teams haven’t been kind to Real Salt Lake lately, but Wednesday’s game may have exorcised some demons.

FC Dallas entered America First Field with a five-game unbeaten streak against RSL and left the game with its first loss to the Claret Cobalt since 2021, a 3-2 win for the home team.

Anderson Julio stepped in for the absent Chicho Arango – who was serving a one-match suspension for too many yellow cards – and used his unmatched speed and tenacity to operate all over the field, starting with a penalty drawn in the ninth minute.

Brayan Vera converted the penalty to give RSL an early lead, and Julio continued to score goals at both ends of the attacking half over the next 50 minutes, taking his total to nine goals this season.

The first goal came in the 24th minute with a 52-yard shot from just inside midfield that flew over the goalkeeper, and the second goal came in the 62nd minute after a precise cross from Dominik Marczuk was on the goal line. It was Julio’s second brace – a two-goal performance – of the season.

“The eyes (of the strikers) are always on goal and that goes against all the tactics we use,” head coach Pablo Mastroeni said of the goal from midfield. “And that just shows the individual quality in that moment that really got us going. I think it was an important moment for the group because we haven’t scored many goals recently.”

Dallas managed to pull one back just before halftime thanks to a surprise free kick from Jesus Ferreira that stunned the entire stadium. Julio’s second goal became even more important when Alan Velasco converted a penalty for Dallas in the 88th minute to make it 3-2.

With the win, RSL now holds sole second place in the Western Conference with five games remaining in the regular season.

The team returns to the AFF on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. MDT for a key game against playoff contender and casual rival Portland.