Kansas City, Kansas (Sunday, September 30, 2018) – Real Salt Lake (13-11-7, 46 points) kept pace in the Western Conference playoff race with a 1-1 draw in a nationally-televised match against Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park on Sunday.
FW Corey Baird scored his seventh goal of the season and GK Nick Rimando finished with six saves to preserve the draw and earn the crucial road point.
Real Salt Lake was outshot 9-3 in the first half, but went into the break with a 1-0 advantage. In the ninth minute, FW Jefferson Savarino sent a through ball to Baird in behind the Kansas City defense, and Baird slotted a left-footed shot past the oncoming Tim Melia to stake RSL to the early lead. Rimando made a sliding stop in the 22nd minute, charging off his line to block a shot from Krisztian Nemeth to keep the match at 1-0.
Early in the second half, Rimando was called for again, this time swiping away a shot from Graham Zusi in the 48th minute. However, Sporting leveled the match in the 52nd minute when Ike Opara nodded in a corner kick from Johnny Russell to bring the match to 1-1. Baird nearly snared the lead in the 73rd minute, again on a ball from Savarino, but his first-time shot on the breakaway hit the crossbar and was cleared by Kansas City. Rimando made one more stop in the 87th minute, stretching to make the foot-save then smothering it to keep the match level.
RSL remains in sixth in the Western Conference, two points behind the fourth-place Portland Timbers and two points ahead of the LA Galaxy in seventh.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake returns home to host the Portland Timbers on Saturday in the first of two meetings over the final three games of the season. Kickoff from Rio Tinto Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RSL: Corey Baird (Jefferson Savarino) 9th minute – With Real Salt Lake on the break, Jefferson Savarino threaded a ball between the Kansas City defense and found Corey Baird on the run into the box. He laced a left-footed shot past the oncoming Tim Melia for his seventh goal of the season.
SKC: Ike Opara (Johnny Russell) 52nd minute – Off a Johnny Russell corner kick, Ike Opara rose above the pack and smashed a header inside the far post to equalize at 1-1.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
RSL: Nick Rimando, 22nd minute – Krisztian Nemeth got alone into the box up the right side, but Nick Rimando charged off his line to meet him to make the stop and keep RSL in the lead at 1-0.
RSL: Nick Rimando, 48th minute – Graham Zusi played a ball from the right side that deflected on frame, but Nick Rimando made a swipe with his right hand to keep it out of the net.
RSL: Nick Rimando, 87th minute – Graham Zusi played a ball through the box to Diego Rubio on the left side and he hit a first-time shot toward the far post. Nick Rimando stretched out his leg and made the foot-save before smothering the rebound to keep the match level.
NOTES:
- MF Albert Rusnák did not start in the match after missing training on Saturday in Kansas City while tending to a personal matter. He arrived later in the day on Saturday and was on the bench for RSL on Sunday. He appeared off the bench in the 61st minute.
- DF Nedum Onuoha made his MLS debut, appearing off the bench in the 88th minute to help close out the draw.
- DF Marcelo Silva was not available on Sunday after suffering groin tightness following last week’s match against Atlanta United FC on the turf of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Match: Real Salt Lake at Sporting Kansas City
Date: September 30, 2018
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park; Kansas City, Kansas
Attendance: 19,844
Weather: Cloudy and 75
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 0 1
Sporting Kansas City 0 1 1
RSL: Corey Baird (Jefferson Savarino) 9’
SKC: Ike Opara (Johnny Russell) 52’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Brooks Lennon, Nick Besler (Shawn Barry 93+’), Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera; Kyle Beckerman, Sunny; Jefferson Savarino, Damir Kreilach (Albert Rusnák 61’), Joao Plata (Nedum Onuoha 88’); Corey Baird.
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Luke Mulholland, Sebastian Saucedo, Luis Silva.
Sporting Kansas City (4-3-3): Tim Melia; Graham Zusi, Matt Besler, Ike Opara, Seth Sinovic; Roger Espinoza (Yohan Croizet 66’), Ilie Sanchez, Felipe Gutierrez; Johnny Russell (Daniel Salloi 78’), Krisztian Nemeth (Diego Rubio 71’), Gerso Gernandes.
Subs not used: Eric Dick, Gianluca Busio, Andreu Fontas, Jaylin Lindsey.
Stats Summary: RSL / SKC
Shots: 8 / 20
Shots on Goal: 3 / 6
Saves: 6 / 2
Corner Kicks: 2 / 6
Fouls: 14 / 9
Offside: 1 / 2
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SKC: Felipe Gutierrez (Caution) 74’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistant Referees: Jason White, Jeremy Hanson
4th Official: Marcos de Oliveira
Video Assistant Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
