When it comes to drama on the soccer field, it doesn’t pack much more punch than a game-deciding penalty in stoppage time. So when Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando stood on his line eyeing LA Galaxy superstar Robbie Keane as he stood over the ball 12 yards away in the season opener, it was just the kind of theatrics fitting of two of the league’s best clubs as they kicked off the 2014 season. Now, eight months later, that moment stands out as one of the season’s highlights as Rimando’s win-clinching save of Keane’s penalty is among four finalists for MLS Save of the Year.
Rimando would save four of the five penalties he faced in 2014 and had five saves win MLS Save of the Week honors. However, his season-opening stop of Keane stood out among the rest.
Here he sat with the game on the line, staring down one of the league’s premier players and a finalist for MLS MVP honors. And Rimando didn’t blink.
Up to that point, Keane had converted six of his seven penalties in MLS regular season play. There was little reason to believe the Ireland international and former Premier League sensation wasn’t about to score his first goal of the 2014 season and lock up a draw between the Western Conference foes.
Except that Rimando had saved 31.7-percent of the penalties he had faced in his MLS career and 33.3-percent since he first put on an RSL jersey 2007.
Keane sent his shot toward Rimando’s right and the “Wall of the Wasatch” showed how he earned that nickname, ranging toward the post and pushing the ball clear for the save, preserving a 1-0 victory and giving Head Coach Jeff Cassar a victory in his first match at the helm.
That set the tone for a standout season for Rimando that saw him stop four of the five penalties he faced, bringing his career penalty mark to 35.4-percent and 40-percent with Real Salt Lake. He finished the season with a league-best 1.04 goals against average and is a finalist for Allstate Goalkeeper of the Year.
Voting runs through 12:59 am MT on November 27 and fans can vote for Rimando for Save of the Year here.
