MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Rolls to 6-0 Exhibition Win over China's Shandong Luneng Taishan

Published on February 13, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, UT (Friday, February 13, 2009) - After struggling to find its attack in last Sunday's exhibition opener, Real Salt Lake had no such troubles in their second go-around this afternoon, finding goals early and often against Shandong Luneng Taishan to post a 6-0 result over the defending Chinese Super League champions in a scrimmage contested at Oxnard College in Oxnard, Calif. Real Salt Lake would see five different players find the back of the net in the match, with FW Tino Nuñez doing the honors twice to spur the RSL attack.

It would be Nuñez getting things off to a flying start inside the first minute of play, as the second-year striker roofed a half-volley from a tight angle to immediately move the scoreboard. Southern California native FW Yura Movsisyan doubled the lead with his first tally of the preseason in the 10th minute, while Nuñez would do his strike partner one better 10 minutes later by finishing off a pass from MF Will Johnson for his second of the contest, putting RSL up 3-0 after just 20 minutes.

The only other activity of note for the remainder of the half would be a caution for a professional foul issued shortly after the half hour mark to Salt Lake DF Chris Wingert, who spent his first four days alongside his RSL teammates earlier this week after making his return from U.S. Men's National Team camp on Monday.

The usual wholesale changes were in order at the half, with center backs Nat Borchers and David Horst serving as the only holdovers for Head Coach Jason Kreis' side after the break. Even with a new line-up the emphasis on attacking remained the same for the Utah side, with the effort from the new cast paying off in the 62nd minute as MF Alex Nimo converted a penalty kick to lift RSL to a 4-0 advantage.

RSL MF Kevin Reiman would feed trialist FW Arthur Aghasyan for a 77th minute finish and, after Shandong would miss a penalty opportunity of their own in the 84th minute, it would be Aghasyan playing distributor on RSL's sixth and final tally, providing for fellow camp invitee FW Luis Miguel Escalada's finish in the second to last minute of regulation.

Real Salt Lake's original itinerary had the squad scrimmaging UC-Irvine before making the return to Utah on Saturday, but the contest scheduled for tomorrow morning has been canceled. RSL will take the Presidents' Day weekend off from training before holding a practice on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at the New Park field house in Park City from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Next Tuesday's session - RSL's only training to be held in Utah before the team heads to Tampa for the second leg of its 2009 preseason - will be open to members of the media, with availability for players and coaches to follow.

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