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Real Salt Lake Earns Road Point in 0-0 Draw with Portland Timbers

April 24, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


PORTLAND, Oregon - Real Salt Lake (3-2-4, 13 points, 6th West) earned a hard-fought road point, shutting out the defending 2021 Western Conference Champions on their home turf. The 0-0 draw gave the Claret-and-Cobalt its first result of any kind against Portland since October of 2020, improving RSL to 2-8-2 across all competitions against the Timbers since kicking off the 2018 season.

RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath made five saves to earn his third clean sheet of the season, and the Club's first since a March 5 home win over Seattle. Centerback Marcelo Silva wore the armband in place of injured Captain Damir Kreilach (back), while the homegrown defensive tandem of Justen Glad (hamstring, March 19) and Aaron Herrera (calf, March 19) started together for the first time in 2022 - despite each boasting more than 100 reg. season appearances for RSL.

Looking to bounce back in its second consecutive road match and third contest in six days, this time at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, Real Salt Lake and the Timbers found themselves in the trenches for much of the first half. The two sides split possession and shots, both getting just a few chances at goal, as most of the first half was played through transition in the midfield. As the first half approached the halftime break, it seemed as if Portland may have a chance to gain momentum, earning several free kicks just outside the 18-yard-box, but MacMath was able to easily secure the ball, helping his team preserve the scoreline, 0-0, heading into halftime.

Portland continued to press the Claret-and-Cobalt's backline with the start of the second half, putting up several chances in the first 10 minutes. It wasn't until the 66th minute that Real Salt Lake looked to have a quality chance on target, when Pablo Ruiz slammed a shot directly into the left goal post. Ruiz's second shot, on the rebound, was blocked for a corner kick. Ten minutes later Maikel Chang crept inside his defender to trap the ball just in front of Portland's goalkeeper, but his volleyed shot landed right into the arms of Aljaz Ivacic.

With the clock winding down, RSL looked to close out the match, hoping to leave Portland with well-deserved road point. Once again, the action moved back heavily into the midfield, as both sides looked to find the game winner with the ball often ping-ponging through opposing players. In the final minute Sergio Cordova broke free in the middle of the park, headed towards goal, but his shot trickled just wide of goal and the match ended scoreless.

UP NEXT: After back-to-back road matches, Real Salt Lake finally returns to Rio Tinto Stadium to host LA Galaxy at 1:30 p.m. MT for Star Wars day. Next week's Galaxy match kicks off a stretch that sees RSL host six of its next nine 2022 MLS regular-season contests at home, where it boasts the most dominant home-field advantage in MLS since its first full season at Rio Tinto Stadium (2009).

NOTES:

Zack Farnsworth (right ankle), Bret Halsey (ankle), Erik Holt (left foot), Johan Kappelhof (left calf), Jonathan Menendez (adductor) and Damir Kreilach (back) were unavailable due to injury.

Goalkeeper David Ochoa was unavailable due to international duty. Ochoa will represent the Mexico National Team against Guatemala on Wednesday, April 27.

Following the match defender Jaziel Orozco will depart the team to join the U-20 U.S. Youth National Team.

This match wraps up a series of six road matches in nine games, during which RSL earned a 1-2-3 record away from home

Seven out of RSL's first nine opponents appeared in the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. RSL went 3-2-2 against those opponents.

RSL has sold out each of its first three MLS matches this year on Utah soil, while adding 19,301 to the overall tally in Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup loss.

Match: Real Salt Lake at Portland Timbers FC

Date: April 23, 2022

Venue: Providence Park; Portland, Oregon

Weather: Clear and 60 degrees

Attendance: 24,206

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

Real Salt Lake 0 0 0

Portland Timbers 0 0 0

Lineups:

Real Salt Lake (4-3-3): Zac MacMath; Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Andrew Brody; Pablo Ruiz, Everton Luiz (Scott Caldwell 80'), Maikel Chang (Jasper Löffelsend 84')8; Justin Meram (Tate Schmitt 90+5'), Bobby Wood (Rubio Rubin 80'), Sergio Cordova

Subs not used: Tomas Gomez, Jaziel Orozco, Chris Garcia, Bode Davis, Nick Besler

Portland Timbers (4-2-3-1): Aljaz Ivacic; Josecarlos Van Rankin (Zachery McGraw 88'), Claudio Bravo, Bill Tuiloma, Larrys Mabiala; Sebastian Blanco (Jaroslaw Niezgoda 59'), Eryk Williamson (David Ayala 70'), Cristhian Paredes, Yimmi Chara (Dario Zuparic 89'), Dairon Asprilla; Santiago Moreno (Marvin Loria 71')

Subs not used: David Bingham, Pablo Bonilla, Justin vom Steeg, Blake Bodily

Stats Summary: RSL / POR

Shots: 5 / 15

Shots on Goal: 2 / 5

Saves: 5 / 2

Corner Kicks: 1 / 3

Fouls: 11 / 15

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

POR: Claudio Bravo (caution) 77'

POR: Larrys Mabiala (caution) 86'

POR: Cristhian Paredes (caution) 90+2'

OFFICIALS:

Referee: Chris Penso

Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson, Meghan Mullen

4th Official: Andrew Bigelow

VAR: Kevin Terry Jr.

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