MLS Real Salt Lake

RSL Extend Unbeaten Streak to Five with 1-0 Win at Seattle

Published on May 13, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SEATTLE - Real Salt Lake (8-3-2, 26 points, West #1) extended its lead atop both the overall and Western Conference standings with tonight's 1-0 road victory over Seattle Sounders FC. RSL FW Fabian Espindola found the back of the net for the game's only goal early on in the second half, the opportunity created by 18-year old MF Luis Gil and FW Alvaro Saborio. The win paced RSL to its best-ever 13-game start in eight seasons of MLS play, and improved the once road-weary club to 3-2-2 away from home this year, with road victories against West rivals Los Angeles, Portland and now Seattle.

In front of 39,312 fans at Century Link Field, the RSL defense - with GK Nick Rimando returning to the starting lineup after missing Wednesday's match in Chicago - extending its shutout streak to 250 minutes and tallying the club's fifth clean sheet in its league-high 13 games this season, extending RSL's active unbeaten streak to five games entering a two-week bye.

For the second consecutive game, RSL manager Jason Kreis was forced to make an early substitution. The RSL defense suffered an early setback, as veteran DF Chris Wingert suffered a left hamstring strain in the 20th minute, and made way for third-year DF Chris Schuler, appearing in just his fourth game at outside back. The RSL rearguard of Tony Beltran, Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave joined Schuler in holding Seattle without a shot on goal, allowing GK Nick Rimando - making his 300th career MLS start (155th with RSL, 145 with D.C. and Miami) - to come off his line and control Sounders crosses into the box.

Following a scoreless first half, RSL brought early energy to the second stanza, most of it through Espindola. The Argentine striker harassed the Seattle backline, his charging runs and persistent determination paying off in the 51st minute. Strike partner Alvaro Saborio utilized a heel-flick on a give-and-go in the central channel with MF Luis Gil, who played a ball to the top of the box for an overlapping Espindola, who buried the bouncing turf ball with a left-footed volley, catching Seattle GK Bryan Meredith wrong-footed. The goal was Espindola's 30th regular-season score in 105 career MLS matches, allowing him to break the 29-goal tie he shared with former RSL FW Robbie Findley. The tally was Espindola's 9th career regular-season game-winning goal, with RSL improving to 18-6-7 all-time when Fabi finds the back of the net.

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