MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Defeats D.C. United 3-0

August 10, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah - Real Salt Lake (10-4-9, 39 points, West #1), moved into first-place in the Western Conference on Saturday night, defeating Eastern Conference foe D.C. United (11-7-4, 37 points, East #2) 3-0 in front of a sold-out crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium. The match was a historic one for RSL GK Nick Rimando, who officially broke the MLS all-time shutout record with his 113th career clean sheet.

RSL FW Joao Plata opened up the scoring in the 11th minute, heading home a cross from RSL Luke Mulholland to put the Claret-and-Cobalt up 1-0. RSL DF Chris Schuler then went on to notch a brace, recording goals in the 13th and 24th minutes - both assisted by RSL MF Javier Morales - to give the home side a 3-0 lead before halftime. The Claret-and-Cobalt had a number of looks in the second half but was unable to increase its three-goal lead.

D.C. United registered the first chance of the match in the ninth minute. United MF Nick DeLeon took the first corner of the night, finding DF Steve Birnbaum open at the top of the box, but his header from 15 yards out flew high over the bar.

Real Salt Lake went on to take the lead in the 11th minute. RSL FW Olmes Garcia started the play making his way to the end line and whipping a ball into the box that deflected out to Mulholland. The Englishman lobbed a cross into the area finding Plata alone at the far post. The small Ecuadorian finished the unlikeliest of goals, using his head to send his shot past D.C. GK Bill Hamid.

The Claret-and-Cobalt went on to double its lead two minutes later. Morales received the ball outside the box on the left side, sending in a low ball across the face of goal. Schuler made the run to the near post, connecting with the cross and tucking his shot into the left corner for his first goal of 2014.

Schuler made it two on the night, notching a brace in the 24th minute. The play started with an RSL corner kick taken by Morales. The RSL leading assist-man sent a fantastic ball into the box, finding Schuler at the far post who knocked in an open header past a helpless Hamid.

Real Salt Lake continued to stay on the attack in the second half. The Claret-and-Cobalt had a fantastic chance to make it 4-0 in the 53rd minute. Plata flew down the left flank, playing a ball back into the box for Garcia. The Colombian sent a diving header from just atop the six yard box to the left post that seemed destined to beat Hamid, but the D.C. 'keeper came up big with a one-handed save, palming the ball away out of danger.

D.C. United had a good look in the 62nd minute after earning a free kick 25 yards out from goal on the left side. United FW and former RSL player Fabian Espindola took the kick, curling in a great ball to the far post that MF Nick DeLeon headed just wide of the far post.

Real Salt Lake continued to threaten throughout the rest of the half, registering a number of decent looks in front of goal. But the Claret-and-Cobalt was unable to increase its lead, ending the game with the 3-0 score line. Rimando remained fairly untested, recording only two saves to earn his momentous clean sheet.

The Claret-and-Cobalt will return to action on Tuesday, when it hosts Mexican side Club Tijuana in an international friendly at 8:00 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake will resume MLS action next Saturday, when it hosts Seattle Sounders FC in a nationally televised match at 12:30 p.m. MT at Rio Tinto Stadium. Tickets to the RSL-Tijuana and Seattle match can be purchased at the Rio Tinto Stadium box office, online at www.RealSaltLake.com/Tickets or over the phone at 801-727-2700.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 10, 2014


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