MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Hits Late for 2-1 Win Over Charleston Battery

March 12, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


CHARLESTON, SC (Wednesday, March 11, 2009) - Real Salt Lake traded free kick goals with the Charleston Battery before seeing captain Kyle Beckerman hit a tremendous game-winner in the 77th minute, lifting RSL to a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Challenge Cup tournament hosts at Blackbaud Stadium. The win puts RSL back into a first-place tie with Toronto FC after the second of three matchdays in the preseason tournament, with both teams sitting on the maximum six points heading into the competition's de facto championship match between the two MLS sides on Saturday.

Real Salt Lake would take the lead for the first time on the night 21 minutes in, when a run by FW Robbie Findley was cut short by a foul just outside the Battery penalty area, resulting in a free kick. RSL MF Andy Williams stood over the ball -which was in the same spot as his free kick tally the other night - but he deferred to fellow veteran MF Clint Mathis, who drilled a low shot through the wall and into the left side of goal to put the Utahns up 1-0. However, another piece of dead ball mastery would see the USL First Division side tie up the match four minutes after halftime, when, from 25 yards out, Battery striker Ian Fuller bent a stunning free kick into the upper left corner to level the match at 1-1.

RSL Head Coach Jason Kreis' injection of six first-team regulars into the line-up in the 68th minute would result in largely one-way traffic towards goal for the visitors until the end of the match. The increased pressure would pay off in the 77th minute, as high defensive pressure by FW Yura Movsisyan forced a turnover 30 yards from the Charleston goal. The RSL captain Beckerman found the ball at his feet and took a peek at goal before unleashing a looping shot that sailed over Battery 'keeper Keith Wiggins and dipped under the crossbar for the impressive game-winner.

Tonight's win puts Real Salt Lake in the driver's seat in the chase for the sixth annual Carolina Challenge Cup, as the Utah side drew even with Toronto FC on six points and holds the goal differential tie-breaker over the Canadian club (RSL +4, TOR +2). That means all Real Salt Lake needs to do to bring the trophy back to the Beehive State is to draw the "Reds" in the tournament's penultimate game this Saturday, March 14, at 3:00 p.m. MT. Fans can follow Saturday's action live online by tuning into a streaming video feed on Toronto FC's website (www.torontofc.ca) or via live updates on RSL's Behind the Shield blog at www.RSLtotheCore.com.

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