SANDY, Utah (Saturday, June 18, 2016) – Real Salt Lake remained unbeaten at Rio Tinto Stadium this season after a 2-2 draw with the Portland Timbers on Saturday night.
FW Juan Manuel Martinez and FW Yura Movsisyan scored their fifth and sixth goals of the season, respectively, and GK Nick Rimando finished the night with four saves to push RSL to 4-0-1 at home this season (4-0-3 across all competitions).
In a feisty match that saw 27 fouls and five yellow cards, Real Salt Lake would get on the scoreboard first.
In the 17th minute, RSL’s Argentine combo on Martinez and MF Javier Morales connected to rocket Salt Lake to an early lead.
The Claret-and-Cobalt laid the pressure on the Timbers from the opening kick and earned its second corner kick just 16 minutes into the match. Morales sent the set piece to the far post where Martinez leapt over Lucas Melano to get his head to it and put it past Jake Gleeson for his fifth goal of the season.
By halftime, that lead would turn into a deficit.
Portland would even it up in the 29th minute when RSL turned it over in the midfield. Jermaine Taylor intercepted the ball just inside the center stripe and rolled a pass in behind the Salt Lake defense. Adi beat DF Justen Glad to the ball and put it past the oncoming Rimando for his ninth goal of the season to equalize at 1-1.
Then in the 44th minute, the Timbers went up on the first goal of the year from Melano.
On the play, Diego Valeri got into the box and put a shot past Rimando, but it pinged off the far post. The rebound fell cleanly to Melano and he hit a first-time shot into the net and RSL went into the break trailing 2-1.
MF Jordan Allen nearly equalized in the 68th minute, rifling a shot from outside the box that skipped just wide. Moments later, RSL would find the equalizer from the penalty spot.
Movsisyan received a pass on the left side and carried it into the box. Cutting back toward his own half, the RSL forward was dragged down by Jermaine Taylor and referee Alan Kelly awarded the penalty. Movsisyan converted with a low blast to Gleeson’s right and put it just out the keeper’s reach for his sixth goal of the season to make it 2-2 in the 70th minute.
Real Salt Lake would outshoot Portland 18-12, including 11-6 in the second half, but a fourth comeback win this season was not in the cards and the match finished at 2-2.
Real Salt Lake continues its stretch of six matches in 18 days when it hosts the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday at Rio Tinto Stadium in the only meeting of the season between the two clubs.
GAME NOTES – RSLvPOR
- RSL MF Kyle Beckerman and Portland MF Darlington Nagbe were out of the lineup for their respective teams Saturday while away with the U.S. National Team at Copa America Centenario. The U.S. will face Argentina in the Semifinal round on Tuesday in Houston.
- RSL FW Juan Manuel Martinez and FW Yura Movsisyan have now scored in three consecutive starts in MLS play. Martinez added another in Open Cup play on Tuesday to give him goals in four straight starts across all competitions.
REAL SALT LAKE 2-2 PORTLAND TIMBERS
SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2016
RIO TINTO STADIUM
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 1 2
Portland Timbers 2 0 2
Scoring Summary:
RSL: Juan Manuel Martinez (Javier Morales) 17’
POR: Fanendo Adi (Jermaine Taylor) 29’
POR: Lucas Melano 44’
RSL: Yura Movsisyan (PK) 70’
Misconduct Summary:
POR: Ben Zemanski (Caution; Foul) 33’
POR: Diego Chara (Caution; Foul) 33’
RSL: Tony Beltran (Caution; Foul) 56’
RSL: Justen Glad (Caution; Foul) 66’
POR: Zarek Valentin (Caution; Foul) 84’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, Justen Glad, Aaron Maund, Chris Wingert; Sunday Stephen (Jordan Allen 65’), Luke Mulholland; Juan Manuel Martinez, Javier Morales, Joao Plata; Yura Movsisyan (Olmes Garcia 91+’).
Substitutes not used: Jeff Attinella, Omar Holness, Jamison Olave, Devon Sandoval, John Stertzer.
Portland Timbers (4-2-3-1): Jake Gleeson; Jermaine Taylor, Nat Borchers, Liam Ridgewell, Zarek Valentin; Diego Chara, Ben Zemanski; Diego Valeri, Ned Grabavoy (Darren Mattocks 76’), Lucas Melano (Jack Barmby 81’); Fanendo Adi (Jack McInerney 91+’).
Substitutes not used: Wade Hamilton, Jack Jewsbury, Amobi Okugo, Taylor Peay.
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistant Referees: Matthew Nelson, Eduardo Mariscal
Fourth Official: Baldomero Toledo
Attendance: 20,317
Weather: Partly cloudy and 88
