SANDY, Utah - Will Johnson scored a late goal and Real Salt Lake beat nine-man
Chivas USA, 1-0, at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday. However, they lost playmaker
Javier Morales to an apparent broken ankle in the process.
Morales was stretchered off following an awkward tackle by Chivas’ Marcos
Mondaini in the 38th minute. The referee initially appeared to show a yellow
card to Mondaini, but the striker was eventually ejected with a straight red.
Johnson supplied the go-ahead goal in the 87th minute after RSL had played with
a man advantage throughout the entire second half. The score was created by
substitute Collen Warner, who put a cross in front of goal that defender Nat
Borchers got a foot on. Johnson then blasted it into the net from close range
to seal the win.
Chivas USA defender Andrew Boyens was also ejected, receiving his marching
orders in the 28th minute after picking up a second yellow card.
RSL had started the game aggressively, but Chivas initially held their shape
well. However, in the 15th minute it appeared RSL’s efforts would pay off as
Alvaro Saborio chased down a seemingly harmless ball over the top. He managed
to beat Boyens for position but was taken down by the defender just outside the
penalty area.
Boyens drew his first yellow for the play, despite the home team’s insistence
that it was an “imminent scoring threat” and that a red card was deserved.
That would become a moot point ten minutes later when Boyens earned a second
yellow — and the accompanying ejection — for again taking Saborio
down outside the area.
It appeared that RSL were set to take control of the match with the man
advantage. In the 33rd minute goalkeeper Dan Kennedy came way off his line to
meet Fabian Espindola before deciding to retreat. Espindola sent a nice cross
through the goal mouth that just missed connecting with Saborio.
But in minute 38th disaster struck for RSL. Morales sealed off a defender in
the final third and began running toward goal with the ball, but Chivas striker
Mondaini made a clumsy two-footed tackle from behind, scything down the RSL
playmaker.
Morales was in visible physical pain following the challenge as RSL players
surrounded the referee. Initial reports suggested a fractured ankle, and
Morales was rushed to a nearby hospital while Andy Williams subbed in for the
home team.
Coming out in the second half, it seemed as though Chivas were set on riding
the game out to a 0-0 scoreline. RSL countered by bringing in Arturo Alvarez in
favor of defender Robbie Russell.
Though most of the second half was spent in the Chivas end, RSL seemed to be
missing their playmaker’s inspiration as they tried to break down their
opponent’s compact defensive formation. However, the visitors were able to
maintain their shape and absorb the pressure.
As the frustration mounted, it seemed likely that the game would end in a
scoreless draw, but RSL finally broke through in the 87th minute allowing them
to collect all three points.
Real Salt Lake 1 : 0 Chivas USA
Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 14,365
Chivas USA (2-3-3)
Real Salt Lake (5-1-0)
Scoring Summary:
RSL -- Will Johnson 1 (Nat Borchers 1) 87
Misconduct Summary:
CHV -- Andrew Boyens (caution; Tactical Foul) 15
CHV -- Andrew Boyens (caution; Tactical Foul) 24
CHV -- Andrew Boyens (ejection; Second Caution) 24
CHV -- Marcos Mondaini (ejection; Serious Foul Play) 37
Chivas USA -- Dan Kennedy, Zarek Valentin, Andrew Boyens, Heath Pearce, Ante
Jazic, Ben Zemanski, Simon Elliott, Nick LaBrocca, Jorge Flores (Justin Braun
57), Marcos Mondaini, Alejandro Moreno (Mariano Trujillo 72).
Substitutes Not Used: Victor Estupinan, Gerson Mayen, Francisco Mendoza,
Michael Umana, Zach Thornton.
Real Salt Lake -- Nick Rimando, Robbie Russell (Arturo Alvarez 54), Jamison
Olave, Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert, Ned Grabavoy, Kyle Beckerman, Javier
Morales (Andy Williams 44), Will Johnson, Alvaro Saborio, Fabian Espindola
(Collen Warner 65).
Substitutes Not Used: Jean Alexandre, Tony Beltran, Chris Schuler, Kyle
Reynish.
Referee: Paul Ward
Referee's Assistants: -Anthony Vasoli; Chris Strickland
4th Official: Allen Chapman
Time of Game: 1:54
Weather: Sunny-and-69-degrees
