SANDY, UT (Saturday, July 4, 2015) – Real Salt Lake held every statistical advantage against Orlando City SC in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs Saturday night. But RSL finished its stretch of six matches in 19 days with a 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium, ending the busy stretch with a 3-1-2 record across all competitions.
FW Sebastian Jaime scored his third goal of the season and GK Jeff Attinella finished the night with three saves, but RSL couldn’t crack a resolute Orlando defense in the second half. With distinct edges in shots (23-9), shots on goal (7-4), passes (478-328) and possession (58.9%-41.1%), RSL had every reason to expect to win at home. Add to that a 45th minute red card to Orlando superstar Kaka and a 1-1 final was far from the expected result.
There was an early lead to be had in the match and it very nearly went to Real Salt Lake in the fourth minute.
In a scramble in the middle of the box, RSL had three shots, one from FW Joao Plata and two from FW Olmes Garcia. But the first effort by Plata and the follow by Garcia were both blocked before Garcia’s last chance was corralled by Tally Hall for the save.
On the other end of the field, Orlando held possession on the edge of the box, then Pedro Ribeiro sprung Kaka into space in the box. The Brazilian put his left-footed shot past Attinella and inside the far post for the fifth-minute goal as RSL fell behind 1-0.
RSL fought for the equalizer and put Hall under pressure before finally breaking through in the 28th minute. DF Tony Beltran pushed up the right side and got into the box before crossing it for Jaime in the middle of the box. He cut inside his defender and snapped a header inside the near post for his third goal of the season to even it up at 1-1.
The goal gave Jaime three goals in his last four MLS matches and four in his last five across all competitions.
The home side remained in control, outshooting Orlando 12-3 for the half, and went on the man-advantage in the 45th minute when Kaka was red-carded after a foul near the sideline and subsequent stomp on the downed Morales.
However, RSL wasn’t able to take advantage of Kaka’s sending-off. Although playing down a man, Orlando attempted the first three shots of the second half, holding RSL without a second-half shot until the 61st minute.
In the 81st minute, Cassar opted to bring on FW Sebastian Saucedo for Beltran, shifting the formation into a more attacking posture to go for the win and the move almost paid immediate dividends when Saucedo curled a shot from the left side in the 84th minute that Hall tipped into the far post, bouncing clear.
Real Salt Lake ended a stretch of six matches in 19 days. Now with a week between games, RSL will take to the road to face the Colorado Rapids in the second match of the Rocky Mountain Cup on July 11 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
Real Salt Lake Match Notes – RSLvORL
- FW Sebastian Jaime has scored in four consecutive home matches across all competitions. It’s the first time in 11 seasons that has happened for a Real Salt Lake player.
- After Kaka’s first-half red card, it was the first ejection of a Real Salt Lake opponent all season. RSL has been shown six red cards this season.
- DF Demar Phillips was replaced in the match by DF Abdoulie Mansally in the 52nd minute after suffering a hamstring injury.
- After his yellow card in the 90th minute, Mansally will serve a one-match suspension when RSL faces the Colorado Rapids next week for yellow card accumulation.
- The 20,956 in attendance was the highest crowd in Rio Tinto Stadium, marking the third time this season the previous best had been beaten. The other two matches were March 29 against Toronto FC (20,794) and May 23 against New York City FC (20,801).
REAL SALT LAKE 1-1 ORLANDO CITY SC
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2015
RIO TINTO STADIUM
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 0 1
Orlando City SC 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
ORL: Kaka (Pedro Ribeiro, Eric Avila) 5’
RSL: Sebastian Jaime (Tony Beltran) 28’
Misconduct Summary:
ORL: Cristian Higuita (Yellow; Foul) 38’
ORL: Kaka (Red; Serious Foul) 45’
ORL: Rafael Ramos (Yellow; Time-wasting) 79’
RSL: Abdoulie Mansally (Yellow; Foul) 90’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-3-3): Jeff Attinella; Tony Beltran (Sebastian Saucedo 81’), Aaron Maund, Elias Vasquez, Demar Phillips (Abdoulie Mansally 52’); Luke Mulholland, Luis Gil, Javier Morales (C); Olmes Garcia, Sebastian Jaime (Devon Sandoval 73’), Joao Plata.
Substitutes not used: Lalo Fernandez, Chris Schuler, Pecka, Sebastian Saucedo, John Stertzer.
Orlando City SC (4-4-2): Tally Hall; Rafael Ramos, Seb Hines, Sean St. Ledger, Luke Boden; Eric Avila, Lewis Neal, Cristian Higuita, Carlos Rivas; Kaka (C), Pedro Ribeiro (Amobi Okugo 90’).
Substitutes not used: Donovan Ricketts, Harrison Heath, Estrela, Danny Mwanga, Tommy Redding, Tyler Turner.
Referee: Sorin Stoica
Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson, Jason White
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Attendance: 20,956
Weather: Partly cloudy and 95
