When a recent MLS MVP and one of the most prolific goalscorers in MLS history has a ball played across the front of the goal and he is crashing on an open net, it’s a beyond reasonable expectation that the ball will find the back of the net.
But when the greatest goalkeeper in MLS history is on the other side of the play, those scoring chances diminish greatly.
That was the scenario when Chris Wondolowski got on the end of a ball in Real Salt Lake’s late-season match against the San Jose Earthquakes and while he had a seemingly simple scoring chance after a great ball from Shea Salinas, Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando sprung across the goal mouth to make the improbable save and now has found himself in the Semifinal Round in the MLSsoccer.com Save of the Year voting.
Rimando is squaring off with Vancouver Whitecaps FC goalkeeper David Ousted in the Semifinal Round with one of four of his saves that qualified for the tournament. RSL’s Jeff Attinella also had three goals qualify.
To vote for Rimando and see the three other semifinalists, click here. Voting ends Saturday at 10:55 p.m. MT.