A late spot-kick from Alvaro Saborio pulled Real Salt Lake level in their home opener against Philadelphia Union.
Javier Morales started the goal-fest from a set-piece followed by a brace by Frederico Aristeguieta, while RSL defender Jamison Olave scored at either end of the pitch within a three-minute span that summed up the chaotic nature of the game.
The first-half was extremely open – the home side was actually slightly more proactive and could’ve been ahead as early as the second minute had Demar Phillips’ cross found Sebastian Jaime at the far post. Tony Beltran found Kyle Beckerman from a deep position around the 11-minute mark, but his close-range shot was deflected away. Sebastian Jaime had a chance from the resulting corner, but his header from the far-post missed the target.
The Philadelphia side had moments of their own in the opening minutes. In the 8th minute of play, Sebastian Le Toux found himself with plenty of space in the box following good work down the left flank. The midfielder, however, could only manage to shoot over the bar.
The golden opportunity of the half came in the 26th minute, when Demar Phillips and Olmes Garcia combined well in the box to put Luis Gil through on goal. The midfielder would have been slightly disappointed to miss his opportunity, after a committed Rais Mbolhi was already off his position.
However, it was only a matter of time before the game saw a goal, and it came in the 28th minute from a Javier Morales free-kick after Sheanon Williams had taken down Alvaro Saborio just outside the box. Morales’ precision from the set-piece had Union keeper Mbolhi and the Union wall well-beaten, as the ball rocketed to the top-right. The goal came somewhat against the run of play, and started what turned out to be a promising spell by the away team in the next ten minutes.
In the 38th minute of play, Fernando Aristeguieta found himself through on goal after an erroneous clearance from Chris Schuler. The prolific targetman, however, still had plenty to do, and he finished neatly past Rimando from an acute angle.
RSL continued with their brand new 4-3-3 formation in this game, after having debuted it in their scoreless draw against Timbers at Providence Park. Union were also held at home by Colorado Rapids by an identical scoreline in their opening game.
The claret-and-cobalt started the second half much the same way they did the first, and could’ve been level in the 48th minute when Tony Beltran found Luis Gil with a low cross. The midfielder went closer this time, but could only manage to hit the post. Jamison Olave also had a glorious chance in the 49th, but his header from close range went over the bar.
RSL soon equalized in the 55th minute, when a Javier Morales’ free-kick found Jamison Olave in the far post. The Union defense was unconvincing throughout the match in set-piece situations, and on this occasion, the unmarked RSL defender made them pay. Olave soon turned into the villain, however, as a fairly innocuous cross from Cristian Maidana took a wicked deflection off Jamison Olave in the 58th and rolled into the net past an already-committed Rimando.
The goal, albeit slightly unfortunate, marked a recurring trend – once again, RSL had conceded when seemingly in ascendancy, with the lack of communication in defense costing them for a third time. With the game going into a relative lull following the third goal, Union appeared to have snuffed out the worst of RSL’s offensive threat.
That was till the 86th minute, when the referee called a spot-kick as substitute Luke Mulholland fell to ground in the opposition box. Saborio coolly slotted from the spot to pull RSL level. Union would’ve felt really hard done-by, after replays showed that the referee’s judgement was dubious at best – Mulholland merely seemed to be stretching to win the ball back in Union half.
Nonetheless, Union will take plenty of positives from this game as they host FC Dallas next Saturday. RSL, meanwhile, play Toronto FC at home in two weeks’ time.
