SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has announced that GK Nick Rimando has won his second consecutive MLS Save of the Year. Rimando took home the award for his amazing double save in a 2-2 draw at Colorado Rapids on Aug. 3 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Rimando made the incredible save in the 53rd minute when Colorado FW Jaime Castrillon got on the end of a set piece at the top-left corner of the six, flicking a header toward the far post that Rimando kept out with a diving save to his left. He quickly got to his feet and raced to the other side of the net to again parry away the ball, which had deflected off of RSL DF Nat Borchers and almost crossed the goal line following Rimando’s initial save. CLICK HERE to watch Rimando’s 2013 Save of the Year.
Rimando – who finished second to Portland GK Donovan Ricketts in MLS Goalkeeper of the Year voting – won the MLS Save of the Week award nine times in 2013. The 34-year-old ‘keeper won 2012 MLS Save of the Year for an incredible reaction stop on then-Sporting Kansas City FW Kei Kamara.
Rimando and Real Salt Lake will take on Sporting Kansas City in MLS Cup 2013 on Saturday. MLS Cup 2013 will kick at 2:00 p.m. MT and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and UniMas and locally on ESPN 700 AM.
The 2013 Save of the Year was determined by an online fan vote, after 64 initial nominations for the award were eventually narrowed to four finalists. The final poll results for the four finalists:
Nick Rimando (RSL) vs. COL, 8/3 29.94%
Jaime Penedo (LA) vs. VAN, 8/24 24.47%
Raul Fernandez (DAL) vs. LA, 7/7 22.3%
Donovan Ricketts (POR) vs. VAN, 10/6 23.28%
MLS Save of the Year Winners
2013: Nick Rimando – Real Salt Lake vs. Colorado Rapids – August 3, 2013
2012: Nick Rimando – Real Salt Lake vs. Sporting Kansas City – April 14, 2012
2011: Kasey Keller – Seattle Sounders FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes – October 15, 2011
2010: Kasey Keller – Seattle Sounders FC vs. Kansas City Wizards – April 17, 2010
2009: Pat Onstad – Houston Dynamo vs. Colorado Rapids – April 20, 2009
