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Played
August 18, 2010 10:00 PM EDT
August 18, 2010 10:00 PM EDT
Top of the Match
Álvaro Saborío
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Álvaro Saborío
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Flop of the Match
Nahil Carroll
Arabe Unido
Arabe Unido
Andres Santamaria
Arabe Unido
Arabe Unido
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating CONCACAF Champions League: Real Salt Lake 2-1 Arabe Unido- Saborio Double Seals Comeback.
Patience pays off for RSL in come-from-behind win over nine-man Arabe Unido
By Jeremy Horton
SANDY, Utah -- Real Salt Lake fell behind early in the match and experienced plenty of frustration along the way, but they were able to patiently work their way back into the game and snatch a crucial three points from Arabe Unido in their first CONCACAF Champions League match, by a final score of 2-1. Alvaro Saborio scored both RSL goals to negate Armando Cooper’s early goal for the visitors.
First Half:
The opening minutes belonged to RSL as Arabe struggled to find their shape. In the 6th minute, Robbie Findley dummied a square pass from Will Johnson at the top of the 18, which found its way to Saborio. Saborio shot first time with his left foot but put it just over the crossbar. In the 11th minute, Andy Williams got free on the right side and unleashed a shot that was destined to tuck inside the far post, but Unido goalkeeper Jose Calderon made a strong diving save. Finally, just a minute later Johnson again had a nice attempt on goal that was well-saved by Calderon.
Salt Lake was firmly in charge, but it was Arabe Unido who took the lead, scoring against the run of play in the 13th minute. A defensive breakdown left Cooper open on the Real back line, and when Victor Mendieta found him with a through ball, Cooper was in on goal with only Nat Borchers and Nick Rimando to beat. He stepped partially around Borchers and shot. Borchers got a foot on it, but his deflection only served to change the trajectory enough to prevent Rimando from getting to it, and it bounced slowly into the goal to give Unido the 1-0 lead.
In the 29th minute, the game changed in favor of Real Salt Lake when Arabe Unido’s Nahil Carroll went in on a very cynical studs-up tackle on Kyle Beckerman. The tackle left referee Paul Ward no choice but to go to his back pocket and show Carroll a red card.
With the man advantage, RSL pressed forward with little abandon, throwing everything they had at Arabe Unido’s goal. After several near misses and frustrating moments, Salt Lake finally broke through in the 44th minute. Chris Wingert brought the ball unimpeded up the left wing and crossed a beautiful driven ball onto the top of the 6-yard box. Saborio got behind his man and put just the right touch on the ball with his head to slide it by Calderon and bring Real level at 1-1.
Second Half:
The second period began much as the first one went for most of the half - with RSL firmly in control but unable to break the deadlock. With the game level, Arabe Unido put on a clinic in time-wasting for most of the half with the result that very little actual soccer was played. Saborio nearly added his second of the night in the 75th minute off another cross from Wingert, but his header flew just high.
Morales had a good look in the 77th minute as Salt Lake got its offense in a better rhythm. He took a pass and dribbled straight up the gut and hit a shot that went inches over the bar.
The frustration mounted for RSL, but their patience was rewarded in second half stoppage time as Nelson Gonzalez was taken down in the box by Andres Santamaria, who earned a yellow card for his tackle. Saborio stepped up to take the penalty and confidently buried it to the keeper’s left to give RSL the winning margin.
Santamaria subsequently picked up another yellow, and Arabe ended the match with just nine men.
CONCACAF Champions League Group A action rolls on next week as Arabe Unido host Toronto FC on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake head to Mexico to do battle with Cruz Azul.
For the latest insider info on all things RSL, follow Jeremy on Twitter @RSL_Jeremy
First Half:
The opening minutes belonged to RSL as Arabe struggled to find their shape. In the 6th minute, Robbie Findley dummied a square pass from Will Johnson at the top of the 18, which found its way to Saborio. Saborio shot first time with his left foot but put it just over the crossbar. In the 11th minute, Andy Williams got free on the right side and unleashed a shot that was destined to tuck inside the far post, but Unido goalkeeper Jose Calderon made a strong diving save. Finally, just a minute later Johnson again had a nice attempt on goal that was well-saved by Calderon.
Salt Lake was firmly in charge, but it was Arabe Unido who took the lead, scoring against the run of play in the 13th minute. A defensive breakdown left Cooper open on the Real back line, and when Victor Mendieta found him with a through ball, Cooper was in on goal with only Nat Borchers and Nick Rimando to beat. He stepped partially around Borchers and shot. Borchers got a foot on it, but his deflection only served to change the trajectory enough to prevent Rimando from getting to it, and it bounced slowly into the goal to give Unido the 1-0 lead.
In the 29th minute, the game changed in favor of Real Salt Lake when Arabe Unido’s Nahil Carroll went in on a very cynical studs-up tackle on Kyle Beckerman. The tackle left referee Paul Ward no choice but to go to his back pocket and show Carroll a red card.
With the man advantage, RSL pressed forward with little abandon, throwing everything they had at Arabe Unido’s goal. After several near misses and frustrating moments, Salt Lake finally broke through in the 44th minute. Chris Wingert brought the ball unimpeded up the left wing and crossed a beautiful driven ball onto the top of the 6-yard box. Saborio got behind his man and put just the right touch on the ball with his head to slide it by Calderon and bring Real level at 1-1.
Second Half:
The second period began much as the first one went for most of the half - with RSL firmly in control but unable to break the deadlock. With the game level, Arabe Unido put on a clinic in time-wasting for most of the half with the result that very little actual soccer was played. Saborio nearly added his second of the night in the 75th minute off another cross from Wingert, but his header flew just high.
Morales had a good look in the 77th minute as Salt Lake got its offense in a better rhythm. He took a pass and dribbled straight up the gut and hit a shot that went inches over the bar.
The frustration mounted for RSL, but their patience was rewarded in second half stoppage time as Nelson Gonzalez was taken down in the box by Andres Santamaria, who earned a yellow card for his tackle. Saborio stepped up to take the penalty and confidently buried it to the keeper’s left to give RSL the winning margin.
Santamaria subsequently picked up another yellow, and Arabe ended the match with just nine men.
CONCACAF Champions League Group A action rolls on next week as Arabe Unido host Toronto FC on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Real Salt Lake head to Mexico to do battle with Cruz Azul.
For the latest insider info on all things RSL, follow Jeremy on Twitter @RSL_Jeremy
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match- Fans' Flop of the Match
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
H. Suazo
Striker Monterrey |
7 | 2 |
|
Oribe Peralta
Striker Santos Laguna |
6 | 0 |
|
H. Gómez
Striker Santos Laguna |
6 | 0 |
|
Abraham Carreno Rohan
Striker Monterrey |
5 | 0 |
|
A. De Nigris
Striker Monterrey |
4 | 0 |