10-Man Real Salt Lake Scores at the Death to Tie Philadelphia 2-2 Real Salt Lake MF Javier Morales scored a 97th minute penalty kick goal to give 10-man RSL a wild 2-2 draw with the Philadelphia Union in front of a sold-out crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium on Wednesday night. Morales put his spot kick off of the right post and in with virtually the final kick of the match to extend RSL's unbeaten streak to 10 games across all competitions. The Claret-and-Cobalt went down a man when trailing 1-0 in the 59th minute, when Referee Ismail Elfath controversially showed RSL DF Lovel Palmer a straight red card for a tackle on Philadelphia MF Michael Farfan. RSL substitute MF Luis Gil equalized for the Utah side in the 75th, only for Union FW Conor Casey to give Philadelphia its second lead of the night one minute later. Philadelphia got off to a fast start, taking the lead through MF Sebastien Le Toux in the 13th minute. Casey got free on the right wing, dribbling from midfield all the way to the end line in the right side of the area before cutting the ball back and rolling a cross to the middle that an open Le Toux tapped home from inside the six. RSL nearly equalized in the19th minute through FW Robbie Findley. Palmer started the play, making a tackle deep in RSL's third on the right side and finding FW Joao Plata up the line to launch a counter. Plata played a give-and-go with Morales, eventually getting to the end line and curling a cross to Findley at the left post. The speedy striker did well to beat his man to the ball, but couldn't quite keep his header on frame, sending the eight-yard effort inches wide of the right post. The Claret-and-Cobalt went down to 10 men when Palmer was ejected in the 59th minute. The versatile Jamaican went after a loose ball in the middle of Philadelphia's third, sliding into a challenge and catching the ball before colliding with Farfan's leg. Elfath deemed the challenge dangerous and showed Palmer a controversial straight red. Despite losing a man, RSL continued to press Philadelphia after Palmer's ejection and nearly equalized in the 73rd minute. Substitute MF Sebastian Velasquez made a mazy run down the left wing, playing a give-and-go with Morales before firing a well-struck 15-yarder that Union GK Zac MacMath punched away. Gil equalized for the Claret-and-Cobalt in the 75th minute. Morales curled a corner kick in from the left side and Gil - who was making his first appearance for RSL after returning to Salt Lake City late last Friday from the U.S.'s run at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup - got on the end of it, powerfully heading inside the far post from 10 yards out. Unfortunately for RSL, Philadelphia re-took the lead seconds later, pulling ahead 2-1 through Casey in the 76th. Substitute FW Antoine Hoppenot beat a RSL player to a ball on the right edge of the area, catching the Claret-and-Cobalt on the break and squaring to Casey in the box. The veteran striker took it from there, calmly slotting home past onrushing RSL GK Josh Saunders to give the Union the lead. Saunders came up huge for RSL 15 minutes later, keeping the Utah side in the game with a fantastic save on Le Toux in second-half stoppage time. RSL had pushed all of its numbers forward, getting caught out when Philadelphia played a headed clearance directly to Le Toux in the middle of the pitch. Le Toux raced forward for a 1-v-1 with Saunders, who came up huge, coming off his line to cut off the Frenchman's angle and getting low to block the effort from 15 yards out. RSL made Saunders' big save count in the 97th minute, when Morales finished his penalty kick to give the Claret-and-Cobalt a point. Philadelphia DF Raymon Gaddis was whistled for the penalty, raising his left arm and handling a last ditch long ball in the top of the box to give RSL the spot kick. Morales added a little bit more drama to the affair, hitting the PK off the right post and caroming it in to make it 2-2. Real Salt Lake will not play again until Saturday, July 13, when it will travel to Texas to take on Western Conference foe FC Dallas at FC Dallas Stadium. The Claret-and-Cobalt will return to Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 20, when it will host Sporting Kansas City in a match followed by postgame fireworks. Real Salt Lake Match Notes - RSL 2-2 PHI Tonight's draw snapped RSL's 7-game win streak across all competitions (4-0-0 MLS, 3-0-0 US Open Cup), but extended the team's unbeaten run to 10 games (8-0-2) since losing in stoppage time at Montreal on May 11 ... Since dropping a home game at Rio Tinto Stadium on April 27 to Los Angeles, RSL is 10-1-1 in its last 12 games across all competitions ... When Philadelphia's Sebastien LeToux scored in the game's 13th minute, that snapped a streak of 385 minutes across all competitions that saw RSL shut out opponents ... RSL GK Josh Saunders earned his first point in MLS play as a member of the Claret-and-Cobalt, the two-time MLS Cup winner notching a key save on a LeToux breakaway to keep the game within reach in the 89' ... Saunders lost his previous MLS start for RSL on March 23 at Dallas, but earned his first RSL win on June 26 in Open Cup action against Carolina, a 3-0 victory ... RSL is now 1-4-2 in MLS play this season when conceding the first goal, earning the club's only comeback win on May 8 at NE in a 2-1 victory ... The other draw prior to tonight came back on March 16 in the club's home opener against Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado, as FW Alvaro Saborio slotted home the equalizer in the 80th minute ... The draw delays RSL earning its inevitable 100th all-time regular-season win, with the club now 99-103-69 in the nine seasons from 2005-present ... RSL next plays at Dallas - a city in which it has never won - on Saturday, July 13 ... Saturday, July 13 is also the date of the next event at Rio Tinto Stadium, which hosts a 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader that features the United States Men's National Team against Cuba, as well as Costa Rica against Belize ... Four RSL players are expected to feature that day, as GK Nick Rimando, Captain Kyle Beckerman and back Tony Beltran each will represent the USA, while FW Alvaro Saborio is captaining his Costa Rican National Team ... With tonight's draw, RSL is now 5-0-6 in home Independence / Pioneer Day fireworks games since 2008, Jason Kreis' first full season as RSL Head Coach ... RSL hosts Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, July 20, at Rio Tinto Stadium, 7:30p MT kickoff .. RSL maestro Javier Morales wore the Captain's armband tonight, in lieu of absent USMNT star Kyle Beckerman ... Morales assisted on Luis Gil's 75' goal tonight - his team-leading 6th assist of the season - before converting his stoppage-time penalty kick for his 4th goal of 2013, matching the team-high total for goal so far with Alvaro Saborio, Robbie Findley and Olmes Garcia ... Morales' 95+' PK was RSL's 11th goal in the final 15 minutes of a game, a period during which RSL has outscored opponents 11-6 ... All-time, RSL is now 30-for-35 from the spot in MLS play, Morales 2-for-3 ... RSL DF Lovel Palmer's 2nd half red card was RSL's fourth of the season through 19 games, although one - DF Carlos Salcedo's stoppage-time ejection at NE on May - was rescinded ... By improving to 10-5-4 with 34 points through 19 games, RSL has attained its 2nd-best start of all-time, one point shy of its 2010 mark (10-4-5, 35 points) ...
Real Salt Lake Snaps FC Dallas' 15-Game Home Unbeaten Streak FC Dallas (8-5-7, 31 points) dropped its first match at home in nearly a year, losing, 3-0, to Real Salt Lake tonight at FC Dallas Stadium. The visitors nearly got things started in the 10th minute when Sebastian Velasquez ran at FC Dallas right back Zach Loyd. The Colombian midfielder cut inside and delivered a pass on the ground into the area, only to have the ball intercepted by FC Dallas center back Stephen Keel. The loose ball fell to Real Salt Lake captain Javier Morales at the top of the area and the Argentine struck a low shot towards the back post. FC Dallas' other center back, Matt Hedges was there to block the attempt and started a counter attack that nearly ended in a goal. Jackson and Fabian Castillo combined to test goalkeeper Josh Saunders less than a minute after Real Salt Lake's chance. The Brazilian midfielder pushed a ball inside to Castillo, who was cutting through the center of the Salt Lake defense. Castillo sped past a pair of would-be tacklers and got off a hard right-footed blast, but the shot was pushed over the crossbar by Saunders. FC Dallas controlled possession and was able to create multiple goal-scoring opportunities around the 25th minute of the match. The home team's best opportunity came in the 27th minute, when Jackson and Castillo combined for a second time. After receiving the pass from Jackson, Castillo spun to avoid a pair of defenders before cutting back and faking a shot to dodge two more markers. Nearly at the top of the six-yard box, Castillo knocked a waist-high pass to the back post but forward Kenny Cooper was unable to redirect the hard pass on target. Dallas won a free kick in a dangerous spot in the final six minutes of the first half, and left back Jair Benitez stepped to the free kick. The Colombian defender attempted to bend the ball over the wall but had his shot catch one of the five players and shoot back towards midfield. Abdoulie Mansally led the charge for Salt Lake. He tried to cross the ball through the center of the field to the back post, but Loyd was there to block the pass. Unfortunately for Dallas, the ball fell to the feet of Morales on the left wing. Salt Lake's best attacking player walked the ball into the area before picking out the far side-netting with a low shot that crossed up Loyd and eluded goalkeeper Raul Fernandez to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute. Coming out of halftime, FC Dallas head coach Schellas Hyndman opted for change. He brought on all three of his substitutions by the 66th minute. Despite the alterations, Salt Lake scored its second goal of the night in the 79th minute on a play that started on the left flank. Morales got the ball to Mansally on the wing and the left back charged deep into FC Dallas territory before centering a pass to a wide-open Ned Grabavoy at the penalty spot. Grabavoy took a touch before striking a hard shot into the top corner of the net. RSL made it 3-0 in the 90th minute on a goal scored by Olmes Garcia. Luis Gil started the play on the right flank, centering a pass into the area. Joao Plata attempted to catch the pass on the half-volley and failed, but Olmes Garcia was there to complete the task. The Colombian forward hit a left-footed blast past Fernandez, effectively ending Dallas' franchise-best home unbeaten streak at 15 games
10-Man Real Salt Lake Loses 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City 10-man Real Salt Lake (11-6-4, 37 points, West #1) lost a heartbreaker to Sporting Kansas City (10-5-6, 36 points, East #1) on Saturday night, giving up two goals - including one in the 97th minute - after going down a man midway through the second half to fall 2-1 in front of a sold-out crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium. The loss snapped the Claret-and-Cobalt's 11-game unbeaten streak over all competitions. Despite the defeat, Real Salt Lake remains in first-place in the Supporters' Shield standings, one point ahead of second-place SKC. RSL took the lead in the 56th minute, going ahead through FW Robbie Findley. The Claret-and-Cobalt went down a man in the 66th, when referee Matthew Foerster controversially showed RSL DF Chris Wingert a second yellow card, ejecting him from the match. SKC took advantage immediately, getting a goal from FW Soony Saad on the ensuing free kick before DF Ike Opara scored the winner in the 97th. Tempers flared right from the start, with several players from both sides getting into it in the first minute after Wingert and SKC FW Kei Kamara knocked heads on an aerial attempt. Wingert was shown a yellow for his role in the incident, setting the table for his 66th minute ejection. RSL had the match's first chance, nearly going ahead in the 16th minute. FW Joao Plata played MF Luis Gil in down the right side, with Gil cutting past SKC GK Jimmy Nielsen in the right corner of the area before lofting a cross to the back post. Unfortunately for RSL, Gil's ball drifted a tad too close to the end line, and Findley could only head his attempt back toward the middle of the box for a SKC clearance. Real Salt Lake had another decent look in the 18th, when Findley curled a low cross in from the right side that was just touched away from the waiting feet of Plata at the far post. Neither side registered another chance until after halftime, when RSL GK Jeff Attinella - who was making his first career MLS start - blocked SKC FW Claudio Bieler's shot to keep it scoreless. Bieler collected a ball at the top of the box, cutting to his left before firing a low shot toward the right post. Attinella did well to get to it, quickly diving to his left to palm the ball around the post and out for a corner. Sporting Kansas City nearly scored on the ensuing set play. MF Graham Zusi curled the corner from the right side to Opara at the back post. The big center back nodded his header down towards the right side of the goal, where Plata headed off the line for a goal line clearance. Findley gave RSL the lead in the 56th minute. MF Javier Morales chipped in a free kick from the middle of Kansas City's half and Nielsen muffed his attempted catch, only managing to slap at the ball and deflect it behind him. Findley took advantage, heading his close-range effort over several players and into the back of the net to give RSL the lead. Wingert was ejected 10 minutes later. The veteran left back pulled Saad down on the right wing and Foerster judged it worthy of a yellow, showing Wingert his second caution and leaving RSL with 10 men. SKC took advantage immediately, scoring on the ensuing free kick. Zusi's free kick got loose in the box, bouncing around off of several players from both teams before Kansas City hit a shot through the RSL defense from the left side of the area. Attinella made a big stop on the shot, but couldn't hold it, with the ball eventually bouncing to Bieler, who headed to Saad for a side-volleyed finish. 10-man RSL nearly went ahead in the 90th minute. Substitute FW Olmes Garcia collected a ball on the left wing and raced to goal, firing a shot from the top left corner of the box that Nielsen stopped with a diving save. Opara scored the winner in the 97th minute. Zusi curled in a corner from the right side and Opara got on the end of it, heading it past Attinella and in to give SKC all three points. Real Salt Lake will return to action next Saturday, July 27, when it will travel to the east coast to take on the New York Red Bulls at 5:00 p.m. MT on Red Bull Arena.
Real Salt Lake Concedes Stoppage Time Goal to Fall 4-3 Real Salt Lake (11-7-4, 37 points, West #1) lost a heartbreaker on Saturday night, giving up goals in the 89th and 94th minutes to fall 4-3 to the New York Red Bulls (10-7-5, 35 points, East #2) at Red Bull Arena. Real Salt Lake FW Alvaro Saborio had all three goals for RSL, but his hat trick wasn't enough for the Claret-and-Cobalt, which went home losers after former FW Fabian Espindola buried his second PK of the game in the 89th minute and MF Dax McCarty scored the winner in the 94th. New York MF Tim Cahill put the Red Bulls on top in the 11th minute. FW Thierry Henry curled a free kick in from the center of RSL's half, finding an unmarked Cahill at the left post. The Australian Designated Player buried the opportunity, running onto the ball at the top-left corner of the six and heading home. New York doubled its lead just 12 minutes later. RSL DF Abdouliue Mansally was whistled for a soft foul at the top of the box on New York DF Brandon Barklage, giving the Red Bulls a penalty kick. Espindola buried the chance, chipping his spot kick down the middle to give the Red Bulls a 2-0 lead. Real Salt Lake nearly pulled one back in the 33rd minute. MF Javier Morales curled a low 25-yard free kick from the middle of the field around the New York wall, forcing Red Bulls GK Luis Robles into a fine diving save at the right post. RSL dodged a major bullet in the 38th. Henry picked up a loose ball in the middle of the Claret-and-Cobalt's defensive third, weaving his way past a pair of RSL defenders and into the left side of the box before hitting a cheeky right-footer off the far post from 15 yards. The Frenchman looked poised to finish the follow-up attempt, but RSL DF Nat Borchers made a big sliding block to keep Henry's close-range effort out. RSL GK Jeff Attinella made a huge save to keep RSL in the game in the 39th. MF Eric Alexander crossed a ball in from the right flank to Espindola, who took advantage of a fallen RSL player to turn and hit a shot on frame. Attinella made a big stop, rushing off his line to block the former RSL man's attempt. The Claret-and-Cobalt got on the board just before the break, with Saborio burying a PK to pull RSL within one in the 45th minute. FW Olmes Garcia earned the penalty, chasing down a long ball on the right side before rounding Red Bulls DF Markus Holgersson, who fouled Garcia in the box. Saborio buried the ensuing spot kick, hitting it low and into the left corner for his fifth goal of the year. Attinella came up with another big stop in the 75th minute. Cahill got on the end of a corner kick at the right side of the six, putting a diving header on goal that Attinella stopped with a fantastic reaction save. RSL made Attinella's big stop pay off in the 80th minute, when Saborio scored his second goal of the match to equalize. Substitute MF Luis Gil hit a deflected ball that fell to Garcia in the right side of the box. Garcia quickly squared to the top of the 18 to Saborio, who hit a right footed shot off of Robles and inside the right post. Saborio completed his hat trick two minutes later, scoring an incredible goal to give RSL an improbable lead. Substitute FW Joao Plata collected a ball on the left wing, cutting into the middle and finding Saborio at the top of the box. The Costa Rican international took a couple of touches to his left, before chipping an outstanding shot with the outside of the right post and into the right netting. Unfortunately, RSL couldn't hold the lead, conceding in the 89th and 94th minutes to fall 3-2. Espindola earned - and converted - a second penalty to tie, with referee Silviu Petrescu whistling RSL DF Aaron Maund for a controversial foul in the left side of the box. Attinella guessed correctly on Espindola's spot kick, but couldn't quite reach the shot, which found the left side of the net. McCarty gave the Red Bulls the win in the 94th. Barklage collected the ball on the right wing, whipping in an early cross to the center of the area. McCarty got on the end of it, diving at full extension to redirect the ball past Attinella and into the left side of the net. Real Salt Lake will return to action next Saturday, when it will take on the rival Colorado Rapids in the deciding game of the 2013 Rocky Mountain Cup Presented by Mark Miller Subaru.
Real Salt Lake Notches 1-0 Win over Houston Dynamo Real Salt Lake (12-7-5, 41 points, West #1) moved back into sole possession of first-place in the MLS Supporters' Shield race on Saturday night, getting a first half penalty kick goal from FW Alvaro Saborio to beat the Houston Dynamo (9-7-6, 33 points, East #5) 1-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Claret-and-Cobalt is now unbeaten in its last three matches across all competitions and winners of its last two. The Utah side is two points ahead of Sporting Kansas City in the Supporters' Shield race and five points ahead of Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the Western Conference. RSL controlled the match from the start, dominating possession from the opening whistle and putting Houston under a decent amount of pressure. The Dynamo did a good job of staying organized, however, and RSL didn't have any clear cut chances until the 33rd minute, when FW Joao Plata hit the crossbar. The Ecuadorian attacker picked up a loose ball on the left side, using his first touch to slam a 25-yard right-footer past Houston GK Tally Hall and off the crossbar. Real Salt Lake took the lead on a Saborio penalty kick in the 37th minute. FW Olmes Garcia earned the PK, getting undercut by Dynamo MF Adam Moffat while challenging for a loose ball at the top of the area. Saborio buried the ensuing spot kick, rolling his shot into the lower right corner after sending Hall the wrong way. The script flipped somewhat in the second half, with Houston controlling more of the game as it searched for an equalizer. Unfortunately for the Dynamo, the RSL defense did a solid job of clamping down in the final third, staying organized and tackling effectively to prevent Houston from creating any rock solid chances. Despite Houston's pressure, RSL had the first good look of the second period, nearly doubling its advantage in the 76th minute. DF Tony Beltran lofted a cross from the right corner to the back post, where Saborio got on the end of it and headed a shot toward goal. The effort deflected off of substitute FW Devon Sandoval, who collected the rebound and flicked an attempt off of an onrushing Hall. Saborio had one last bite at the apple, running onto the loose ball and slamming a shot that Hall - who was now even farther off his line - blocked nicely. Houston really turned the pressure on following RSL's near miss, getting forward frequently and generating some decent set piece opportunities. But the Dynamo was no match for the Claret-and-Cobalt defense, which repeatedly turned away Houston's attacks to record its first shutout since July 13. Real Salt Lake will begin a two-game road trip next Saturday, when it will take on the LA Galaxy at the Home Depot Center. The Claret-and-Cobalt will follow up the LA match with a trip to the Pacific Northwest, where it will take on the Portland Timbers in a July 21 midweek clash at JELD-WEN Field. RSL will return home on Aug. 24, when it will take on Eastern Conference foe the Columbus Crew at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Real Salt Lake Falls 4-2 at LA Galaxy Real Salt Lake (12-8-5, 41 points, West #1) fell victim to a Robbie Keane hat trick on Saturday night, giving up four second half goals to lose 4-2 to the LA Galaxy (11-9-4, 37 points, West #4) at StubHub Center. Despite the loss, Real Salt Lake remains in first-place in the Western Conference, two points ahead of the second-place Colorado Rapids. The Claret-and-Cobalt is also still in first in the Supporters' Shield race, though second-place Sporting Kansas City would pass the Utah side with a win over the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday. Real Salt Lake took the lead early in the second half, going ahead in the 53rd minute through FW Joao Plata. Unfortunately, the Claret-and-Cobalt couldn't hold its advantage, with Keane scoring in the 56th and 67th minutes, DF Omar Gonzalez adding one in the 75th and Keane completing his hat trick in the 86th before RSL FW Robbie Findley pulled one back deep into stoppage time. The first half was relatively quiet, with LA registering the best opportunity of the opening frame in the 19th minute. MF Gyasi Zardes collected a ball in the left side of the box, rifling a pass across the face of goal. The dangerous ball caromed off of several players before eventually falling to a Galaxy attacker, who ripped a shot from the center of the area that RSL DF Chris Wingert made a big block on to keep out. RSL started the second half with a bang, with Plata giving the Claret-and-Cobalt the lead in the 53rd. DF Nat Borchers started the play, collecting a ball near midfield before lacing a pass to MF Ned Grabavoy just outside the top of the box. Grabavoy played Plata through with a fantastic flick, allowing the Ecuadorian attacker to run onto the ball just inside the area before firing past LA GK Jaime Penedo to put RSL up 1-0. Real Salt Lake's lead didn't last long however, with Keane equalizing for LA just three minutes after Plata's opener. The Irish international collected MF Juninho's ball in the middle of RSL's third, turning a Claret-and-Cobalt defender before curling a shot inside the right post from the top of the 18. LA FW Landon Donovan nearly gave LA the lead two minutes later. The American international picked up a loose ball in the left side of the box, taking a touch toward the corner before turning and chipping a shot over RSL GK Nick Rimando and toward goal. The ball looked ticketed for the back of the net, but Wingert came up huge, racing back to the goal line to block Donovan's shot with his chest. Keane put LA up 2-1 in the 67th minute. Substitute MF Sean Franklin made the play, collecting a ball on the right flank and hitting a low cross from the corner that Keane ran onto and touched home from just inside the six yard box. Gonzalez scored the Galaxy's third in the 75th minute. The newly minted Designated Player got on the end of a Donovan corner kick at the left post, rising above a RSL defender and flicking his header past Rimando and inside the far bar to give LA a two-goal cushion. Keane iced the game in the 86th, running onto a Franklin long ball over the top of the RSL back line before chipping the onrushing Rimando to complete his hat trick and give LA an insurmountable 4-1 lead. Findley gave RSL a consolation goal in the 95th minute, running onto a deflected MF Javier Morales free kick in the right side of the six and slotting home inside the near post with his first touch. RSL won't have much time to dwell on Saturday's loss, returning to action on Wednesday for an important Western Conference clash at the third-place Portland Timbers. Wednesday's game will kickoff at 9:00 p.m. MT and will be broadcast live on CW30, ESPN 700 AM and 102.3 La Gran D FM/1600 AM.
10-Man Real Salt Lake Scores In Stoppage Time To Tie 3-3 At Portland Timbers Real Salt Lake (12-8-6, 42 points, West #1) picked up an important road point on Wednesday night, overcoming a second half red card and getting a 93rd minute goal from MF Cole Grossman to tie the Portland Timbers (9-3-12, 39 points, West #3) 3-3 at JELD-WEN Field. RSL - which was playing without Captain Kyle Beckerman (yellow card accumulation), GK Nick Rimando (stomach virus) and leading-scorer Alvaro Saborio (calf strain) - fell behind early, going down 1-0 in the 24th minute when Portland FW Rodney Wallace put the Timbers on top. The Claret-and-Cobalt fought back with goals from DF Nat Borchers in the 38th and MF Javier Morales in the 43rd to take a 2-1 lead into the half. RSL couldn't hold its advantage, however, conceding the equalizer in the 57th, losing MF Yordany Alvarez to a straight red card in the 78th and falling behind 3-2 in the 86th. The Utah side looked dead in the water, but Grossman's late equalizer salvaged a point and kept the Claret-and-Cobalt atop the MLS and Western Conference tables heading into the weekend. Portland started the match on the front foot, nearly going ahead in the fourth minute when MF Diego Valeri bounced a shot off the post. Valeri collected a loose ball in the right side of the box, hitting a 12-yard effort past RSL GK Jeff Attinella and off the left post. Wallace put the Timbers on top in the 24th minute. Valeri curled a free kick in from the left side, picking out Wallace for a headed finish from just inside the penalty spot. RSL had a decent look at an equalizer in the 26th. Morales swung a set piece in from the right flank, just missing the head of an open Borchers and finding the outstretched foot of FW Robbie Findley, who toe-poked a shot on frame that was held by Portland GK Donovan Ricketts. Borchers put Real Salt Lake on the board in the 38th. Morales made the play, winning the ball from Valeri in the right corner and lofting a cross into the middle. Alvarez got on the end of the ball, heading a six-yard shot that Ricketts couldn't hold. The rebound fell perfectly to Borchers, who tapped in from the right side of the six-yard box for his first goal of 2013. Morales earned RSL a penalty kick four minutes later. MF Khari Stephenson nailed a big drive from distance that bounced off of Ricketts and all the way out to the top of the box. Morales collected the rebound, taking a touch before getting pulled down by Portland DF Andrew Jean-Baptiste to earn the spot kick. The Argentine maestro made no mistake with the ensuing penalty, taking a stutter-step before slotting home into the left side to give RSL the 2-1 lead. Attinella came up with a big save in the 50th minute to keep RSL ahead. Valeri was again at the center of the opportunity, swerving a free kick in from the left side to unmarked FW Ryan Johnson at the back post. Attinella came up big on the Jamaican international's free header, positioning himself smartly to deny the point blank chance. Referee Ricardo Salazar whistled RSL for a penalty kick in the 56th. DF Brandon McDonald was unluckily whistled for a hand ball in the top of the box, giving Portland its own spot kick. Valeri stepped up to take it, burying his chance with a cool finish to the right side to knot the game 2-2 in the 57th minute. RSL went down to 10-men in the 79th minute, when Alvarez was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Portland MF Diego Chara. RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis inserted Grossman for FW Joao Plata immediately after Alvarez's ejection. The Timbers didn't take long to score on 10-man RSL, going ahead 3-2 through substitute FW Kalif Alhassan in the 86th minute. RSL failed to properly deal with a cross into the area and Alhassan pounced, running onto the loose ball in the right side of the box before slamming a 15-yard shot inside the far post with his first touch. Things looked bleak for RSL until Grossman - who was making his first appearance since suffering a concussion at FC Dallas on March 23 - improbably knocked home the equalizer well into second half stoppage time. DF Tony Beltran started the play, digging a ball out of the right corner and crossing into the middle. The ball bounced around in the box before eventually falling to Grossman, who hit a low left-footer off the turf and inside the near post from 10 yards out in the right side of the area to knot the game at 3-3. Real Salt Lake will return to action this Saturday, when it will host the Columbus Crew at 7:30 p.m. at Rio Tinto Stadium. Tickets to Saturday's match can be purchased at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700.
Real Salt Lake Loses 2-1 to San Jose Earthquakes Real Salt Lake (14-10-6, 48 points, West #2) fell to the San Jose Earthquakes (11-11-8, 41 points, West #7) 2-1 at a sold-out Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday night, allowing two goals from FW Steven Lenhart in the space of three minutes in the first half to drop its second straight match. All three goals came within a three minute span in the first half, with Lenhart putting the Quakes on top in the 18th, RSL MF Javier Morales equalizing in the 19th and Lenhart scoring the winner in the 21st. Lenhart gave San Jose the lead in the 18th minute. MF Cordell Cato collected a ball on the right flank, whipping a ball in that Lenhart got on the end of at the top right corner of the six yard box. RSL GK Nick Rimando had no chance to stop the ensuing header, which Lenhart powered home inside the near post. RSL responded immediately, with Morales finishing Captain Kyle Beckerman's corner kick to knot things at 1-1 in the 19th minute. Beckerman served in an in swinging ball from the right corner that flew just over a gaggle of players at the near post and fell to an unmarked Morales at the top of the six. The Argentine playmaker took advantage of the opportunity, finishing his left-footer into the top left corner with his first touch. Things didn't stay level for long, though, as Lenhart scored the game's third goal in three minutes to put San Jose up 2-1 in the 21st. MF Shea Salinas served a set piece in from the left side, finding Lenhart at the right post for a nearly identical finish to his first goal. RSL controlled much of the rest of the opening frame, keeping the ball in San Jose's defensive third for long stretches and frequently pushing the ball out wide for crosses - and corners - into the box. Unfortunately, the Claret-and-Cobalt couldn't quite break down San Jose's compact defense and headed into the half down a goal. Rimando made a big stop in the 49th minute to keep RSL within one. San Jose DF Jordan Stewart curled a cross in from the left flank, finding FW Chris Wondolowski at the penalty spot. The 2012 MLS Budweiser Golden Boot Winner directed his header on frame, forcing Rimando to palm the ball over the bar with a fine reflex save. Claret-and-Cobalt Head Coach Jason Kreis injected the RSL attack with a bit of new blood in the 59th minute, bringing MF Luis Gil on for MF Khari Stephenson and FW Olmes Garcia on for FW Devon Sandoval. Despite RSL continuing to control possession, it was the Earthquakes that had the next chance, nearly doubling their advantage off of a counterattack in the 67th minute. MF Rafael Baca picked up a loose ball just inside his own half and took off on the break, racing down the right side for a 2-v-1 with Wondolowski against RSL DF Chris Wingert. Wingert did a fine job of playing both Baca and Wondolowski, closing Baca down at just the right moment to prevent him from finding Wondolowski and to force him into a shot from a tight angle that Rimando saved. RSL really started to push following the Baca chance, nearly equalizing through Wingert in the 73rd minute. The veteran left back collected a lay off at the top of the box, taking a touch and lacing a right-footer just wide of the left post from 20 yards out. The Claret-and-Cobalt had another good look at an equalizer in the 82nd. Morales slipped substitute FW Robbie Findley through on the left side, allowing the speedy striker to run onto the ball just inside the area before taking a touch and whizzing a 12-yard left footer just wide of the near post upper 90. RSL desperately searched for an equalizer in the game's dying moments, but Findley's near miss was the team's last good opportunity. The RSL first-team will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 28, travelling north of the border to take on Vancouver Whitecaps FC at 5:00 p.m. MT at BC Place. Next weekend's match will be broadcast live on CW30, ESPN 700 AM and 102.3 La Gran D FM/1600 AM. The Real Salt Lake Reserves will close out the MLS Reserve League season on Tuesday, when they'll host the Chivas USA Reserves at 11:00 a.m. MT at America First Field in Sandy, Utah. Tuesday's Reserve League contest is open to the public and admission is free.
Real Salt Lake Tops Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1-0 at BC Place Real Salt Lake (15-10-6, 51 points, West #1) bounced back from back-to-back losses in a big way on Saturday, getting a very strong performance out of a makeshift lineup to beat Vancouver Whitecaps FC (11-11-8, 41 points, West #6) 1-0 at BC Place. RSL is now temporarily in first-place in both the Supporters' Shield and Western Conference races, though the Claret-and-Cobalt will fall out of the Supporters' Shield lead following Sunday's game between Seattle Sounders FC and New York Red Bulls. RSL will remain in first place in the Western Conference if Seattle ties or loses on Sunday. FW Devon Sandoval scored for the Claret-and-Cobalt, which made 10 changes to the lineup that lost last Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes ahead of Tuesday's 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final against D.C. United at Rio Tinto Stadium. Sandoval put the Claret-and-Cobalt on top in the ninth minute. DF Lovel Palmer collected a FW Olmes Garcia pass on the right wing, taking a touch into space and curling an early cross into the area. Sandoval got on the end of Palmer's lofted ball, finding space in between two Vancouver defenders and heading home inside the near post from the top of the six-yard-box. Vancouver very nearly equalized in the 14th minute. Whitecaps FC FW Camilo Sanvezzo collected a loose RSL corner kick on the left flank and took off on the counter, racing down the sideline and finding open MF Nigel Reo-Coker just outside the top of the box for a 1-v-1 with RSL GK Jeff Attinella. Attinella came up big on the play, racing off his line to swipe the ball off of Reo-Coker's foot as he hit his shot. Attinella came up with another fantastic stop in the 36th minute. Vancouver FW Russell Teibert collected a clipped ball in the left side of the area, controlling it with his chest and slamming a left-footed volley on frame from 10 yards that Attinella parried over the bar. Vancouver Manager Martin Rennie made a pair of attacking substitutions in the 54th minute, bringing speedy FW's Kekuta Manneh and Darren Mattocks on for FW Tommy Heinemann and MF Gershon Koffie. The game opened up greatly following the changes, with both sides creating numerous opportunities. Vancouver almost bagged an equalizer in the 55th. The "ÂCaps clipped a ball in from the left corner and RSL wasn't able to clear, allowing several Vancouver players to hit shots from close range. Thankfully, the Claret-and-Cobalt came up with some solid last-ditch defending, with DF's Chris Schuler and Abdoulie Mansally among those who made important blocks. RSL had a pair of good looks in the 57th and 61st minutes. MF Luis Gil had the first opportunity, collecting a through ball from MF Sebastian Velasquez on the left side before cutting in on his right foot and curling a 15-yard shot just wide of the far post. Vancouver GK David Ousted robbed RSL Captain Yordany Alvarez of a goal in the 61st. Alvarez corralled a loose ball just outside the 18 on the right side, volleying a shot that looked ticketed for the back of the net. Ousted had other ideas, however, scrambling to the far post and fully extending to touch the ball around the left upright. RSL was denied by Ousted again in the 73rd minute, when Garcia got free in the right side of the area and hit a shot on goal that the Danish "Âkeeper blocked nicely. The Claret-and-Cobalt held strong against desperate Whitecaps attacks in the final minutes, limiting Vancouver to just one real opportunity. Manneh had the chance, collecting a ball just outside the box and firing a shot just wide of the top-left corner. Substitute FW Joao Plata nearly sealed the game for RSL in the second minute of stoppage time, collecting a ball on the left flank and cutting in on his right foot before firing a low shot off the near post from 15 yards. Real Salt Lake will return to action on Tuesday, when the club will host the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final against D.C. United at Rio Tinto Stadium. Tickets to Tuesday's 100th Open Cup Final can be purchased at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700. Real Salt Lake Match Notes - RSL 1-0 VAN - Tonight's win makes RSL the first team in MLS's post-shootout era to reach the 15-win and 50-point plateaus in four consecutive seasons. Real Salt Lake now has a total of 51 points, retaking the lead in the Western Conference and the Supporters' Shield race, albeit shortly, as Seattle Sounders FC and the New York Red Bulls face off tomorrow. RSL will remain in first place in the Western Conference if Seattle loses or ties against New York. - Tonight's win was the Claret-and-Cobalt's first-ever win at BC Place. RSL went 2-0-1 against the Caps' this year, improving to 4-2-2 all-time against the Canadian side. RSL has now won two straight games in Canada after never having won north of the border until beating Toronto FC 1-0 at BMO Field on June 29. - RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis ran out a makeshift lineup tonight, making 10 changes to the team that lost 2-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes last Saturday. The team didn't miss a beat, however, outperforming Vancouver's first-choice squad throughout the 90 minutes en route to the win. - Tonight's game was RSL DF Chris Schuler's first appearance since May 11. Schuler had been out due to injury, first with a left foot stress response and then with an ankle sprain. Prior to going out injured, Schuler had played every minute of RSL's first 12 matches. - RSL DF Brandon McDonald paired Schuler at center back tonight, marking the ninth different center back pairing the Claret-and-Cobalt has used this year. McDonald has now appeared in three games for Real Salt Lake since being acquired in a trade with D.C. United earlier this year. RSL has a 1-0-2 record when McDonald plays, with all three of his appearances coming on the road. - Real Salt Lake looks ahead to Tuesday as they host D.C. United in the 100th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final at Rio Tinto Stadium. The Open Cup Final presents RSL with an opportunity to win its first trophy of the year, and earn automatic entry into the 2014/2015 CONCACAF Champions League. - Tonight's win was the first career MLS victory and first career MLS shutout for RSL GK Jeff Attinella. Attinella was 0-2-1 as a starter entering tonight's match, though he did come on in relief of injured RSL GK Josh Saunders in the Claret-and-Cobalt's 3-0 win at FC Dallas on July 13.
10-Man Real Salt Lake Draws FC Dallas 1-1 Real Salt Lake (15-10-7, 52 points, West #1) earned a hard fought point on Saturday night, tying FC Dallas (10-10-11, 41 points, West #8) 1-1 despite going down a man in the 17th minute in front of a sold-out crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake started brightly, but went down a man in the 17th minute when DF Abdoulie Mansally was shown a straight red card for a foul on Dallas MF Jackson. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Real Salt Lake scored first, going ahead in the 60th minute through FW Alvaro Saborio. Dallas FW Kenny Cooper equalized 12 minutes after Saborio's goal to send both teams home with a point. The result maintains the Claret-and-Cobalt's position at the top of the Western Conference, one point ahead of second-place Seattle Sounders FC. RSL is one point behind the New York Red Bulls in the Supporters' Shield race. Seattle has two games in hand on both RSL and New York. Real Salt Lake had a golden opportunity in the fifth minute. MF Javier Morales curled a free kick in from the right flank toward Saborio and strike partner FW Robbie Findley just inside the penalty spot. Unfortunately for RSL, both strikers went for the ball, getting in each other's way before combining for a header that bounced off the turf and over the bar. Jackson put one off the post for Dallas in the 10th minute. FW Fabian Castillo hit an early ball in from the left wing, finding Jackson at the back post. The Brazilian directed his header across the face of goal, past outstretched RSL GK Nick Rimando and off the left post. RSL went down a man in the 17th, when Mansally was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Jackson. Referee Hilario Grajeda sent Mansally off after the Gambian international clattered into Jackson on the left side in the FCD half. Claret-and-Cobalt Head Coach Jason Kreis made a tactical change to adjust for the Mansally red card in the 21st, inserting DF Lovel Palmer for Findley. Rimando made a huge save in the 34th to keep it scoreless. Dallas got behind the RSL defense for a point blank chance, with Castillo collecting a through ball on the left wing and racing into the area before squaring the ball to a wide open Jackson at the top of the six. The speedy attacker looked poised to put FCD ahead, but Rimando had other ideas, just getting a touch to Jackson's first-time flick from the top of the six to deflect the effort over the bar. Real Salt Lake started the second half brightly, nearly taking the lead in the 49th minute. Morales slipped a gorgeous through ball to MF Ned Grabavoy in the right side of the area, putting him in for a 1-on-1 with FCD GK Chris Seitz. Grabavoy ran around the ball and put a first time shot on frame, but Seitz came up big, with the former RSL man blocking Grabavoy's eight-yard effort with a fine kick save. Saborio put the Claret-and-Cobalt ahead in the 60th minute. Rimando started the play, launching a long ball forward that deflected off a Dallas player and toward the FCD goal. Saborio ran onto the opportunity, brilliantly letting the ball ride across his body before half-volleying it inside the left post from 12 yards out. Dallas equalized in the 72nd minute. Substitute MF Je-Vaughn Watson got free in the left side of the area, putting a ball across the goalmouth that rolled past an onrushing Rimando and found Cooper at the back post. The substitute striker took a touch and slotted home from close range, finishing past a scrambling RSL defense. Both sides pushed for a winner in the game's final 15 minutes, with Dallas exerting its numerical advantage to hold more of the run of play. Neither side was able to create any clear cut opportunities however, with the game ending in a draw. Real Salt Lake is on a bye next week. The Claret-and-Cobalt will return to action two weeks from tonight, taking on Western Conference foe Portland Timbers at JELD-WEN Field.
Real Salt Lake clinches playoff berth with draw vs. Portland In what was most crucial regular-season match of the season, neither Real Salt Lake nor the Portland Timbers could afford to make a mistake that would haunt them. Neither team did. RSL and Portland ended the monumentally important match 0-0 Saturday night at JELD-WEN Field in Portland, Ore.
Real Salt Lake signs one of top MLS jersey deals In a deal completed in just over a month, MLS’s Real Salt Lake has signed LifeVantage as its new jersey sponsor. While Salt Lake City is one the smallest markets in MLS, the deal is one of the league’s largest, as MLS sources put it at $30 million over 10 years. That’s about $1.3 million more per year than the team’s stadium naming-rights deal and three times more per year than what was being paid by XanGo, its jersey sponsor since 2005. http://www.reddit.com/tb/1pdzcn
RSL name assistant Jeff Cassar as new man in charge Real Salt Lake are replacing Jason Kreis with one of the safest bets in Major League Soccer: His right hand man. The club announced Wednesday that it has promoted longtime goalkeeper coach Jeff Cassar to head coach in Salt Lake City, one week after Kreis left the club to lead 2015 expansion side New York City FC. The deal is for multiple years, RSL president Bill Manning told the Salt Lake Tribune. Cassar, 39, becomes just the third coach in franchise history after a nine-year run for Kreis that transformed the organization and won an MLS Cup in 2009. Cassar has been on board for all of it – the MLS Cup, the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League run and the team’s appearance in MLS Cup earlier this month – after he was hired just three weeks into Kreis’ tenure in 2007. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...-assistant-jeff-cassar-replace-departed-head-
2014 Real Salt Lake Preview: Once more unto the breach in Utah Pretty much the same group: The biggest change this offseason is at the top, where longtime assistant Jeff Cassar replaces longtime boss Jason Kreis. This is a story that's been done to death this offseason, but it's worth repeating: Cassar is keeping the same tactics, and largely the same roster. It's about continuity, and the continuation of the whole "The Team is the Star" ethos in Sandy. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...each-utah-armchair-analyst?module=from_footer
Real Salt Lake Draws 3-3 at San Jose Earthquakes Real Salt Lake (1-0-1, 4 points, West #2) picked up a road point at San Jose Earthquakes (0-0-1, 1 point, West #6) on Saturday night, tying their Western Conference rivals 3-3 at Buck Shaw Stadium. RSL came agonizingly close to leaving the Bay Area with all three points, but couldn't quite close out the Quakes, giving up a 95th minute goal to San Jose DF Victor Bernardez to draw 3-3. The Claret-and-Cobalt will return to Utah on Sunday ahead of next Saturday's home opener at Rio Tinto Stadium against LA Galaxy. San Jose took an early lead on Saturday, getting a sixth minute goal from FW Chris Wondolowski to go up 1-0. RSL hit back with three unanswered goals before halftime, with Captain Kyle Beckerman equalizing with a fantastic 11th minute strike before FW Joao Plata scored in the 32nd and MF Luke Mulholland tallied in first half stoppage time to give RSL a 3-1 lead at the break. Unfortunately, the Claret-and-Cobalt couldn't hold onto its advantage, with Bernardez scoring in the 75th and 95th to give the Quakes a result. RSL Head Coach Jeff Cassar was forced to make one change to the lineup that beat LA last week, inserting Mulholland into the XI and pushing MF Luis Gil to the top of the diamond for MF Javier Morales, who did not travel due to a quad injury. Wondolowski gave the Quakes an early lead, cleaning up from close range to open the scoring in the sixth minute. San Jose MF Shea Salinas curled in a free kick from the left side, and Wondolowski got on the end of it, tapping home off his thigh from inside the six yard box to give the Quakes the 1-0 lead. Beckerman answered for RSL just five minutes later, blasting home from distance to make it 1-1 in the 11th. Plata had the assist, collecting just right of center and leading Beckerman into space in the middle of San Jose's defensive third. The RSL Captain ran onto the square ball, slamming a booming left-footed shot into the lower-left corner from 30 yards out to pull RSL level. RSL GK Nick Rimando - who was awarded MLS Player of the Week on Monday for his standout performance in RSL's season opening win at LA - made a huge save in the 22nd minute to keep things level. Wondolowski had the chance, flicking a Salinas cross on frame from the penalty spot. The header looked ticketed for the back of the net, but Rimando came up with a miraculous save, reaching back with his left hand to paw the ball off the line. Plata gave RSL a 2-1 lead in the 32nd minute. The tiny Ecuadorian collected a ball on the right wing, dribbling toward the area before finding MF Luis Gil at the top of the box. Gil played a one-time pass right back to Plata, who collected in the right side of the area and created space by faking a shot before slamming a low-right footer inside the near post from 10 yards. Mulholland made it 3-1 in the fourth minute of first half stoppage time. RSL MF Ned Grabavoy collected a loose ball at the top of the arc, taking a touch toward goal and firing a shot on frame. San Jose GK Jon Busch couldn't hold Grabavoy's effort spilling the rebound into the path of an onrushing Mulholland, who slotted home from 10 yards out. Rimando made another big save in the 49th minute, just getting a finger to paw San Jose FW Steven Lenhart's flicked 10-yard header off the crossbar and out of danger. Rimando had another important stop in the 68th minute, collecting San Jose MF J.J. Koval's re-direct of Quakes DF Cordell Cato's volley from outside the box. Bernardez cut RSL's lead to 3-2 in the 75th minute. Salinas again had the assist, whipping a corner in from the left side that Bernardez headed inside the far post from the top-left corner of the six. RSL FW Alvaro Saborio came inches away from restoring RSL's two-goal advantage in the 76th minute. Plata played the Costa Rican international behind the San Jose defense in the right side of the area, with Saborio collecting and slamming an eight-yard effort off the near post with his first touch San Jose kept pushing for an equalizer after Saborio's near miss, registering decent looks in the 77th, 80th, 81st, 89th and 93rd minutes before Bernardez equalized in the 95th. San Jose DF Shaun Francis started the play, looping a cross into the area from the right wing. Rimando punched the ball away, but it fell to Bernardez at the top of the six-yard box, with the Honduran international collecting and volleying home inside the far post. RSL will return to action next Saturday, opening its 2014 home schedule at Rio Tinto Stadium against LA Galaxy. Tickets to the 2:00 p.m. MT kick can be purchased at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, over the phone at 801-727-2700 or online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets. Press release from Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake Earns Hard-Fought Point at Sporting Kansas City Real Salt Lake (2-0-3, 9 points, West #2) earned a hard-fought point at Sporting Kansas City (2-1-2, 8 points, East #3) on Saturday night, getting a big performance from backup GK Jeff Attinella to tie SKC 0-0 in a MLS Cup 2013 rematch at Sporting Park. Real Salt Lake was without three of key players on Saturday night due to injury. GK Nick Rimando (knee) and DF Tony Beltran (ankle) didn't travel to Kansas City after picking up knocks while playing with the U.S. Men's National Team in its 2-2 draw against Mexico on Wednesday, while DF Chris Wingert also remained in Salt Lake after sustaining a groin injury in last Saturday's win over Toronto FC. Attinella, DF Rich Balchan and DF Abdoulie Mansally were inserted into the lineup for the injured trio, all making their first starts of the season. Attinella put on a show in the first half, making three big saves to deny Sporting KC. His first big stop came in the 11th minute, when he made an excellent save on Kansas City FW Dom Dwyer. SKC DF Matt Besler played a long ball to Dwyer over the top, with the English striker running onto it behind the RSL defense for a 1-v-1 with Attinella. The RSL 'keeper quickly came off his line to meet Dwyer in the left side of the area, quickly dropping to his left to make a miraculous stop. Attinella made another good stop in the 27th. Sporting FW Graham Zusi played a corner short to DF Seth Senovic, who uncorked a 20-yard shot on frame from the left side that Attinella acrobatically parried over. Attinella came up with a third big stop in the 34th. Besler started the play, launching a long throw into the area from the right side. RSL DF Chris Schuler headed away, but SKC MF Benny Feilhaber collected at the top of the 18, hitting a vicious 18-yard volley toward the left post that Attinella kept out with a diving stop. SKC continued on the front foot to start the second half, registering a pair of good chances in the 51st and 52nd minutes. Zusi had the first look, wriggling free in the left side of the area before hitting a left-footed shot just wide of the far post from the top-left corner of the six. Zusi created the second look, getting free in the left side along the end line before cutting a ball back to the top of the six to Dwyer, who had his sliding attempt blocked by Schuler. RSL Head Coach Jeff Cassar made his first switch in the 55th minute, bringing MF Luke Mulholland on for MF Luis Gil. The change seemed to settle RSL, which began to hold more of the ball and get a bit of a hold on the match. Still, it was SKC that had the next chance, coming inches away from going ahead in the 63rd minute. Kansas City DF Chance Myers chipped a ball down the right side, with Dwyer beating RSL's offside trap and running onto it unencumbered. He quickly dribbled into the right side of the box, rounding a well-off-his-line Attinella near the right edge of the area before rolling a shot off the right post from a tight angle. RSL wasn't out of the woods yet though, with the rebound bouncing to KC FW Sal Zizzo in the middle of the box. Zizzo hit a shot toward the empty net with his first-touch, but RSL DF Nat Borchers came up big, blocking the effort from his position inside the six. Real Salt Lake went up a man in the 83rd minute, when Sporting KC MF Uri Rosell was shown a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on RSL substitute FW Devon Sandoval. RSL couldn't find a winner after getting the man-advantage, with neither side unable to create any clear-cut chances in the game's final minutes. RSL will return to action next Saturday, taking on Philadelphia Union at 2:00 p.m. MT on ABC 4. Real Salt Lake will return home on Saturday, April 19, when it will host Portland Timbers at 7:30 p.m. MT. Tickets to the Portland match can be purchased at the Rio tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700. Press release from Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake Stays Unbeaten in 2014 with Wild 2-2 Draw Real Salt Lake (2-0-4, 10 points, West #3) stayed unbeaten in the 2014 season on Saturday, playing Philadelphia Union (1-1-4, 7 points, East #4) to a wild 2-2 draw at PPL Park. RSL twice took the lead on Saturday, only to twice allow Philadelphia to equalize. Claret-and-Cobalt MF Luke Mulholland scored the opener in the fifth minute, finishing a rebound after Philadelphia GK Zac MacMath saved RSL FW Alvaro Saborio's penalty kick. Philadelphia FW Andrew Wenger made it 1-1 in the 55th minute, slotting home MF Vincent Nogueira's cross to pull the Union level. It looked like Captain Kyle Beckerman stole all three points for RSL with an 85th minute goal, but Union MF Maurice Edu had other ideas, heading home a 90th minute corner kick to make it 2-2. Saturday's draw means RSL remains as one of just two unbeaten teams in MLS; Western Conference leaders FC Dallas - which hosts Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday night - are the only other unbeaten side in the league. Mulholland tapped home a saved Saborio penalty kick to put RSL ahead in the fifth minute. FW Olmes Garcia earned the PK, collecting a Saborio flick just inside the area before getting brought down by Philadelphia DF Austin Berry. Saborio couldn't convert his spot kick, with MacMath pawing away his effort near the right post. Mulholland raced to collect the rebound, ghosting in on the right side from his position behind several Philadelphia players before side-footing his 10-yard right-footed shot inside the far post. RSL had a good chance to make it 2-0 in the 11th minute. Mulholland slipped a gorgeous through ball to Garcia on the right side, with the Colombian striker running onto it and firing a shot on frame that MacMath kept out with a fine kick save. The Union nearly equalized in the 15th minute. Wenger ran onto a bouncing ball in the right side, chipping a 15-yard half volley over RSL GK Jeff Attinella, off the top of the crossbar and out of play. RSL had another opportunity in the 28th minute. MF Ned Grabavoy found Garcia on the break, with Garcia slipping by a Union defender and streaking into the area before losing control. Saborio pounced on the loose ball inside the area, but couldn't keep his half-volley on frame, hitting the 15-yard effort well over the bar. The Claret-and-Cobalt had the final chance of the first half in the 39th minute. MF Javier Morales curled a free kick in from the right side, with Saborio flicking a header to open DF Nat Borchers inside the six. Unfortunately for RSL, Borchers couldn't quite control Saborio's header, and the chance dissipated. Philadelphia equalized early in the second half, with Wenger pulling the Union level in the 55th minute. Philadelphia caught RSL on the break, with Nogueira collecting a ball in transition on the right side before hitting an excellent cross to an open Wenger in the left side of the box. The 2012 MLS SuperDraft No. 1 pick made no mistake with the chance, collecting with his chest and slotting home past an onrushing Attinella. RSL nearly hit back immediately, with Garcia coming inches away from opening his 2014 account in the 57th minute. Grabavoy chipped a ball over the top to Garcia on the left side, with the 21-year-old forward fighting through traffic to beat the onrushing MacMath to the ball just inside the area. Unfortunately for RSL, Garcia couldn't quite keep his contested header on target, nodding the bouncing ball just wide of the left post. Philadelphia had a shout for a penalty in the 71st minute. Edu collected a ball in the box, firing a shot that was blocked by RSL DF Chris Schuler. The rebound fell to Union MF Leo Fernandes in the middle of the area, who was dispossessed by a sliding Mulholland, with replays showing he had timed his sliding challenge perfectly. RSL had a huge chance in the 74th minute. Morales slipped Saborio behind the Union defense in the right side of the area, with the Costa Rican international firing a left-footed shot that MacMath kept out with another excellent kick save. MacMath denied RSL with another big stop in the 78th minute. RSL turned away some Philadelphia pressure to break on the counter, with substitute FW Devon Sandoval eventually getting free in the right side of the area. The second year striker hit a hard, right-footed shot on frame, only for MacMath to parry the 15-yard effort away. Philadelphia had a chance just one minute later, with substitute FW Conor Casey nearly putting the Union ahead. Substitute MF Cristian Maidana got free on the left side, rolling a cross into the box that Fernandes flicked on with a neat touch from the near post. Casey ran onto the chance at the penalty spot, but couldn't keep his shot on frame, hitting it well over the bar. Beckerman gave RSL the lead in the 85th minute. Substitute MF Sebastian Velasquez - making his 2014 debut - started the play, wriggling past a couple of Philadelphia defenders and finding Morales in the right side of the area. Morales slipped past Berry and got to the end line, eventually cutting the ball back to the center of the box. Beckerman ran onto it unmarked, powering a 10-yard right-footer inside the far post with his first touch. Unfortunately, RSL couldn't hold its late lead, allowing Edu to equalize in the 90th minute. Maidana curled a corner kick in from the left side that Edu got on the end of, brilliantly flicking a header from the penalty spot off the far post and in. Casey nearly snatched a winner for Philadelphia in the third and final minute of stoppage time. Again, it was Maidana that created the chance, whipping in a ball from the left side that Casey headed just wide of the near post from the penalty spot. RSL will return home next Saturday, hosting Portland Timbers at 7:00 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium in a rematch of the 2013 Western Conference Final series. Tickets to next Saturday's expected sell-out can be purchased at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700. Press release from Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake Draws Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-2 Real Salt Lake (3-0-5, 14 points, West #X) remained unbeaten on the 2014 season on Saturday night, getting early strikes from FW's Joao Plata and Alvaro Saborio before allowing two late goals to draw Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2-2-4, 10 points, West #X) 2-2 at Rio Tinto Stadium. Plata put RSL on top just 112 seconds into the match. RSL DF Chris Wingert started the play, playing a ball down the left side to Claret-and-Cobalt MF Luke Mulholland. Mulholland dummied the pass, which took a slight deflection off a Vancouver defender before Plata stepped to it just outside the area. The dynamic attacker quickly dribbled into the left side of the area, finding space away from his marker before firing a low left-footer past diving Vancouver GK David Ousted and inside the far post. Saborio doubled RSL's lead with a gorgeous ninth-minute goal. The buildup to the strike was fantastic, with MF Javier Morales starting the move with a delicate chipped pass to Mulholland on the right wing. The Englishman neatly flicked a header down the line to DF Tony Beltran, who quickly hit a low cross to the top of the area. MF Ned Grabavoy collected the ball, keeping close control to slither by several 'Caps defenders before playing a pass through the legs of a Vancouver player to Saborio in the left side of the area. The Costa Rican international hit the ball with his first touch, deliciously curling his 12-yard left-footer into the top-left corner. RSL Captain Kyle Beckerman nearly made it 3-0 in the 16th and 22nd minutes. The first chance came off of a set play, with Morales rolling a free kick from just outside the right edge of the area to the top of the box, where Beckerman ran onto it and side-footed a shot on frame that Ousted held. He threatened more on the second look, running onto a Plata layoff on the left side and curling a 25-yarder with the outside of his right foot inches wide of the far post. Saborio almost bagged a second in the 35th, heading a Plata cross from the left post past Ousted but cleared off the line by 'Caps DF Johnny Leveron. Rimando made his only save of the half in the 36th minute. Vancouver MF Russell Teibert curled a cross from the right wing to DF Jordan Harvey at the back post, with Harvey rising over Plata and heading the shot on frame. The effort wasn't too much trouble for Rimando, who slid to his left and palmed the chance over the bar. Plata had a golden opportunity to make it 3-0 in first half stoppage time. Grabavoy collected a Morales pass just outside the arc and sprung Plata free with a through ball to the right side. Plata ran onto it for a 1-v-1 with Ousted, but couldn't quite take advantage hitting his shot off of the onrushing 'keeper after taking a somewhat heavy first touch. The second half started rather slowly, with RSL absorbing some pressure from an improved Vancouver side. Neither team had a chance until the 69th minute, when Vancouver substitute FW Erik Hurtado meekly headed substitute MF Nicolas Mezquida's corner kick from the top of the six on frame for another Rimando save. Saborio came inches away from registering his second brace of the season in the 80th minute. Morales delivered a curling set piece into the box from the right wing, with Saborio aggressively running onto the ball at the top of the six. The veteran striker flicked a header toward the far post, with Ousted just barely getting a finger to the shot to tip it off the crossbar. The rebound nearly inched across the goal line, flashing down off the line and then off the post before sneaking out of danger. Mezquida clawed Vancouver back into the game in the 86th minute. 'Caps FW Darren Mattocks collected a cleared corner kick outside the box on the left side, jetting into the area and firing a shot that Rimando saved, but couldn't hold. Mezquida - who replays indicated may have been offside - pounced on the rebound, running into the six and flicking home from close-range. Vancouver managed to find an equalizer in the last minute of stoppage time. With only seconds left in the match, Vancouver sub MF Sebastian Fernandez pounced on an RSL turnover at the center circle and managed to get off a 35-yard rocket that snuck past Rimando into bottom right corner to make things level. Real Salt Lake will hit the road for its next match, taking on Chicago Fire at Toyota Park at 6:30 p.m. MT next Saturday. The RSL-Fire contest will be broadcast live on CW30, ESPN 700 AM and 102.3 La Gran D FM. Press release from Real Salt Lake
Re: Real Salt Lake Draws Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-2 Costa Rica's Alvaro Saborio suffers foot fracture, reportedly out three months: http://www.mlssoccer.com/worldcup/2...referral&utm_content=News&utm_campaign=Unpaid
Re: Real Salt Lake Draws Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2-2 Real Salt Lake willing to pay the price for minor-league stadium Tab estimated at $13 million to build a 5,000-8,000 seat facility at Fairpark. In Real Salt Lake’s bid to build a minor-league soccer stadium at the Utah State Fairpark, the franchise has offered to pay the full price of the project. The stadium, which would hold between 5,000 and 8,000 people, is expected to cost between $12 million and $13 million, said Trey Fitz-Gerald, RSL’s vice president of communications. And it’s a bill the franchise is willing to foot alone, forgoing the possibility of using some public funds. While details have yet to be worked out, the deal would likely give RSL control over the stadium and its scheduling, allowing the franchise to operate a United Soccer League franchise there as a minor-league training tool. http://www.reddit.com/tb/2ccs8x
