Real Salt Lake went into Yankee Stadium on Thursday in need of three points as it closed out a stretch of five consecutive road matches against New York City FC. In the ninth minute, that target looked in jeopardy when an errant backpass fell to David Villa in alone on goal. However, when the World Cup veteran Villa struck his shot with his right foot, the ball wouldn’t meet the back of the net, but rather the glove of Nick Rimando.
The play started innocently enough, with Rimando pinging a ball played back to him, sending it into the midfield. There it was headed forward by Frederic Brillant, and then headed again by Sunny. However, Sunny’s ball, intended for Rimando, was picked off by Villa. The ball was slowed on the Yankee Stadium grass, allowing Aaron Maund to give chase, but Villa’s hesitation move allowed him enough space to get the ball to his right foot for a shot. Sending it toward the far post, Villa nearly put the low-angle shot past Rimando, but The Wall of the Wasatch lunged to his right and made the dramatic save with his right hand. The ball was left spinning in front of the goal and Justen Glad sprang into action to clear it from danger.
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