MLS Real Salt Lake

RSL Falls 1-2 at Vancouver, Drops 5th Consecutive Road Match

Published on August 11, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


VANCOUVER, Canada (Saturday, Aug. 11, 2012) - Real Salt Lake (13-9-3, 42 points, West #2) dropped its fifth consecutive road match across all competitions on Saturday, conceding twice in the second half to fall 2-1 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Real Salt Lake DF Nat Borchers headed home a Paulo Junior cross in the waning moments to pull a goal back, snapping the club's road scoring drought at 360 minutes in MLS play and 450 minutes over all competitions (July 31 CONCACAF Champions League loss at Herediano).

Both teams started the match relatively well, trading a chances in the opening 25 minutes. Vancouver had the first opportunity, nearly going ahead in the 13th minute when FW Camilo forced RSL GK Nick Rimando into a difficult save with a blistering shot from 30 yards.

RSL hit back with a chance of its own in the 25th minute. FW Álvaro SaborÃ-o - who scored both RSL goals in the team's 2-1 win over Vancouver at Rio Tinto Stadium on July 27 - got on the end of MF Javier Morales' cross at the left post, flicking a fabulous header past Vancouver GK Brad Knighton and DF Jay DeMerit as they collided, the ball banging harmlessly off the post.

DeMerit stayed down after knocking heads with Knighton on the play and - despite gamely attempting to keep playing - had to be taken off in the 31st minute. He was replaced by MLS debutant DF Andy O'Brien.

Camilo had another chance in first-half stoppage time, nearly putting Vancouver on the board just before the break. The Brazilian attacker got on the end of MF Barry Robson's cross at the PK spot, rising above a multitude of other players and snapping a solid header toward goal to force Rimando into a fine diving save.

That chance took the sides into halftime. RSL made a precautionary change at the break, taking out Morales due to slight adductor tightness and replacing him with MF Luis Gil.

Vancouver took advantage of a fortunate bounce to take the lead in the 58th minute. Camilo got the goal, running onto RSL MF Will Johnson's deflected clearance in the left side of the box before finishing from a tight angle.

FW Dane Richards doubled Whitecaps FC's advantage just six minutes later. The Jamaican international collected a pass from FW Darren Mattocks just right of center, taking advantage of ample time on the ball to curl a 25-yard right-footer inside the near post.

The Claret-and-Cobalt had a decent chance in the 66th minute. SaborÃ-o had the look, driving a low shot toward the far post from the top right corner of the 18 that Knighton bobbled before eventually collecting.

RSL's urgency escalated as the second half wore on, the insertion of FW Paulo Junior bringing energy to the pitch. The fleet-footed Brazilian - returning to the RSL gameday 18 after a few weeks on a short-term loan with the minor-league Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, where he scored a goal and added an assist in two games - tracked down a ball in the corner. Paulo Junior then sent a far post cross into the box, where veteran RSL DF Nat Borchers ran on and rose above the Vancouver defense to cut the lead to one goal.

Real Salt Lake Match Notes - VAN 2 : 1 RSL

- Tonight's loss drops RSL to 4-6-1 in its last 11 MLS games since the early June FIFA break in MLS play, including a 1-4-0 mark away from home, the only road win coming on June 16 in the 3-0 victory at Chivas USA ... Incidentally, the Borchers goal during tonight's stoppage time was the first since Will Johnson scored at The Home Depot Center to close out that win, RSL being outscored 11-2 on the road in that span ...

- For the second consecutive week, RSL failed to win on the road, three points that would have allowed the club to leap-frog over current MLS Supporters Shield and Western Conference incumbent San Jose Earthquakes, which hold a two-point lead - and a game in hand - over RSL, pending tonight's result at home against Seattle Sounders FC ... With tonight's Vancouver win over RSL, the second-year Whitecaps FC move into a third-place tie with Seattle in the West race at 37 points ...

- The setback at Vancouver drops RSL to 4-6-2 on the road this year, stuck on 14 points - one win and five points shy of matching the club's all-time high, set last year with a 5-8-4 (19 points) cumulative road performance ...

- Next Saturday, RSL hosts visiting FC Dallas (5-11-9, 24 points, West #8) at Rio Tinto Stadium, the West foe traveling to Salt Lake on the heels of tonight's home match against Colorado and a Wednesday visit to Vancouver ...

- Just 72 hours after RSL hosts Dallas, matchday #2 in the 2012/13 CONCACAF Champions League arrives to Sandy, as Panamanian champion Tauro FC arrives ... RSL trails group leader Herediano (Costa Rica) by virtue of the club's 0-1 loss on July 31 ...

- A very limited number of tickets remain for both August home matches for RSL, and can be purchased online at www.RioTintoStadium.com or by calling 801.727.2700 Mon-Sat during business hours 10a-6p ... Fans can also visit the Rio Tinto Stadium box office or the RSL Team Store (10a-5p) on the northeast corner of the Stadium ...

- Two of RSL's perennial starters - FW Alvaro Saborio (Costa Rica) and MF Will Johnson (Canada) - depart directly from Vancouver on Sunday to join their respective national teams for FIFA friendlies on Wednesday, Costa Rica hosting Peru in San Jose's National Stadium and Canada facing Trinidad & Tobago in Florida ...

- The United States National Team travels to Mexico City's famed Azteca Stadium to face regional arch-rival Mexico, with RSL Captain Kyle Beckerman and GK Nick Rimando hoping to have their names announced Sunday at 2:00 p.m. MT by USMNT manager Jurgen Klinsmann, when he unveils the USA selection ...

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