SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, May 17, 2023) – Real Salt Lake (3-6-3, 12 points) earned its third clean sheet of the season - all in the last three weeks - with a weather-delayed 0-0 draw at America First Field against Portland Timbers FC. Goalkeeper **Zac MacMath** made four saves to keep the visiting side at bay.
After a storm passed through America First Field, lightning delaying the start of the midweek match, the two teams finally took the field an hour and 42 minutes after its scheduled start time. Real Salt Lake came out of the delay controlling a majority of the possession and looked to take the early lead in the 11th minute when **Andrés Goméz** skipped a shot towards the near post, but a diving save from the Timbers’ goalkeeper kept the ball from trickling over the line.
As Portland settled into the game, the Timbers began to press RSL’s backline, but MacMath was able to easily scoop up any dangerous activity inside the six-yard-box. Moments before the end of the first half, the Claret-and-Cobalt nearly took the lead when **Justen Glad** headed a shot on target. Glad saw his shot blocked when Alijaz Ivacic was able to make the last-second save, pushing the ball to the feet of **Braian Ojeda**, who slammed his shot off the post, sending the two sides into the halftime break scoreless.
Ten minutes into the second half, MacMath was tasked with making a full-extension save to block a stunning volley by Franck Boli from giving Portland the lead. The second half continued to see the two sides battling it out in the midfield, with neither team able to secure the go-ahead goal. In the 71st minute, Glad tried his hand, but his rocket was parried away by the Portland goalkeeper to maintain the 0-0 scoreline.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake will soon head to the other side of the Rockies for back-to-back matches against Colorado Rapids. The first match on Saturday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. MT, will serve as the team’s next MLS regular-season match. Meanwhile, this Wednesday, May 23 8:00 p.m. MT is a Round of 16 matchup in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
NOTES:
- Real Salt Lake has been held without a goal in four consecutive matches, totaling a 370 minute scoreless drought, matching the third-longest scoreless streak in Club annals. The team has failed to score in seven of its 12 matches thus far in 2023.
- With his 90-minute performance, midfielder Emeka Eneli now leads the 2023 MLS SuperDraft class for the most minutes played this season, with 366 minutes, surpassing Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire, who has played 308 minutes.
- RSL now owns a 2W-3L-2T mark at home this season, returning to MLS action at America First Field on Wed., May 31, with a 7:30p MT kickoff against the LA Galaxy. Tickets are available at www.RSL.com/tickets.
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Zac MacMath; Bode Hidalgo (Bryan Oviedo 64’), Justen Glad, Brayan Vera, Andrew Brody; Andrés Goméz (Danny Musovski 82’), Braian Ojeda, Emeka Eneli, Maikel Chang (Damir Kreilach 86’); Jefferson Savarino, Anderson Julio (Bertin Jacquesson 64’)
Subs not used: Gavin Beavers, Erik Holt, Jasper Löffelsend, Rubio Rubin, Pablo Ruiz
Portland Timbers (4-2-3-1): Alijaz Ivacic; Claudio Bravo, Zachery McGraw, Dario Zuparic Juan Mosquera (Eric Miller 90+1’); Diego Chara, Cristhian Paredes; Yimmi Chara (Dairon Asprilla 64’), Santiago Moreno (Marvin Loria 73’), Evander; Franck Boli (Nathan Fogaça 73’)
Subs not used: David Bingham, Justin Rasmussen, Diego Gutierrez, Larrys Mabiala, Noel Caliskan
Stats Summary: RSL / PORShots: 17 / 10
Shots on Goal: 4 / 4
Saves: 4 / 4
Corner Kicks: 4 / 3
Fouls: 10 / 13
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Emeka Eneli (caution) 45+1’
POR: Franck Boli (caution) 72’
