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MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake Settles for 2-2 Draw with Columbus Crew SC

June 28, 2015 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, UT - Real Salt Lake twice took the lead over Columbus Crew SC, but twice Columbus bounced back with equalizers and RSL had to settle for a 2-2 draw on Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.

FW Olmes Garcia and FW Sebastian Jaime each netted their second goal of the year - and second in a week after both scored in a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City last Sunday. RSL outshot Crew SC 14-7, but two opportunistic goals from Columbus and a late red card to Salt Lake meant one point would be all RSL would get, moving to 5-6-7 (22 points) on the season.

RSL put the Crew under pressure from the opening kick.

In the fifth minute, MF Luke Mulholland swung a free kick in from the right side and DF Phanuel Kavita got a foot to it and caromed high for a goal kick. After a quick Columbus turnover, Jaime got another shot off the deflected away for a corner kick, which resulted in a scrum in front of the box and another narrow miss for RSL.

The Claret-and-Cobalt held the offensive advantage through the first half and finally broke through in the 36th minute on a free kick on the edge of the Columbus box. Mulholland played it short to MF Kyle Beckerman who played a one-touch pass to FW Joao Plata flaring up the right side. Plata headed a pass back across the goal to the far post for Garcia to touch it into the net for his second goal of the season, giving RSL the 1-0 lead.

The lead didn't last though, as Columbus equalized through Tony Tchani. Hector Jimenez crossed the ball to the middle of the box from the right side and Tchani froze GK Nick Rimando with a shot inside the far post for his second goal of the season to send the match into halftime tied at 1-1.

After the intermission, RSL quickly snatched the lead back when Jaime scored his second goal of the season.

DF Abdoulie Mansally sent a long ball over the top that looked like it was going to bounce harmlessly to Columbus goalkeeper Steve Clark, but Jaime knifed between Emanuel Pogatetz and Clark and lofted a shot over Clark's head and into the net for a 2-1 lead just seconds into the second half.

In the 55th minute, MF Luis Gil nearly added to the lead when he brought the ball down at the edge of the box and flicked a shot over Clark's head, but he got a hand to it and parried it just over the bar for a corner kick.

Columbus would again find an equalizer in the 62nd minute. Kei Kamara sprung Federico Higuain up the right side. He found an opening behind the RSL defense and crossed to Ethan Finlay alone at the far post for an unmarked goal to make it 2-2.

RSL Head Coach Jeff Cassar made some late subs to push for the match-winner, but FW Jordan Allen was shown a red card in the 77th minute, just 10 minutes after entering the match, and RSL was reduced to 10 men. Even down a man, RSL had opportunities to put another goal on the board, but Plata missed an attempt in the 79th minute and Garcia had his stoppage-time effort saved by Clark and the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

RSL stays at home with two more matches next week. It starts against the Portland Timbers in the Round of 16 in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. MT as part of a doubleheader that starts with Real Monarchs SLC hosting Sacramento Republic in USL play. The week concludes for RSL with an Independence Day home match against Orlando City SC, marking Salt Lake's first match against the expansion club.

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