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Played
September 4, 2010 9:00 PM EDT
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
September 4, 2010 9:00 PM EDT
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Top of the Match
Javier Morales
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Jamison Olave
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Flop of the Match
Macoumba Kandji
New York Red Bulls
New York Red Bulls
Nat Borchers
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Real Salt Lake 1-0 New York Red Bulls: Salt Lake Neutralize Potent New York Attack
By Jeremy Horton
SANDY, Utah -- Real Salt Lake got an early goal courtesy of Fabian Espindola and made it stick, defeating Red Bull New York 1-0 in front of a sellout crowd of 19,115 at Rio Tinto Stadium. Salt Lake’s defense bent several times but never broke, clearing two balls off the goal line and getting a favorable bounce off the post to earn the clean sheet against New York’s star-studded offense.
First Half
Real Salt Lake started out red-hot and wasted no time, opening their account on the Red Bulls in only the fourth minute. A pass by Javier Morales went central to Kyle Beckerman, who flicked it on the first touch with the outside of his foot over the New York back line. Espindola got around Tim Ream and, under heavy duress, just managed to toe poke the ball underneath Greg Sutton to give RSL the early 1-0 lead.
The Red Bulls, down but not out, kept fighting and nearly equalized in the 12th minute. Macoumba Kandji found some space on the right wing and drove a perfectly-placed cross to the far post where Juan Pablo Angel was free. Angel snapped a header to the near post, forcing Nick Rimando to make a difficult diving save.
Salt Lake nearly made it two in the 16th minute thanks to more magic from Morales. The crafty Argentine worked the ball up the right side and beat Danleigh Borman to the byline. He floated a teasing cross to the far post where Andy Williams was running in. But Williams didn't connect solidly, which made the save a bit easier for Sutton.
Espindola nearly earned a brace in the 24th minute. Morales whipped in a free kick from the right side after he was taken down, and Espindola rose up and got his head on it. But the young Argentine, not known for his heading ability, didn’t place it well enough and Sutton was able to snag it.
A fluky play in the 33rd minute nearly netted New York an equalizer. Off a left-sided corner kick by Joel Lindpere, Angel nodded a weak header toward goal. Thierry Henry took a swing at the bouncing ball and missed, but his action threw off Rimando, who misplayed it and the ball appeared to be headed in the goal, but Williams cleared it off the line at the last minute.
Just two minutes later, again RSL nearly doubled their advantage as Chris Wingert put in a cross from the left side. Robbie Findley got clear at the top of the six and headed the cross on goal, but Sutton made an outstanding reaction save to clear the ball.
Second Half
Salt Lake were reeling as they came out of the locker room as New York began to dominate the match. A low cross from Seth Stammler in the 54th minute was nearly knocked in for an own goal by Jamison Olave. On the ensuing corner kick, a header by Angel was well-saved by Rimando, and his shot on the rebound was cleared off the line by Beckerman.
Unable to find an equalizer, New York were forced to commit more resources into the attack, leaving themselves dangerously exposed in the back. In the 73rd minute, RSL nearly capitalized as they worked a counterattack. Williams slotted a through-ball in for Findley on the left side, who cut it back into the middle and fired a low, hard shot on goal. But Sutton dove to his right and got just enough on it to deflect it wide for a corner.
In minute 75 Morales got fouled outside the box once more, and once more he came very close to converting the free kick, missing just inches over. And several times over the next few minutes, Real either had great chances saved or they just barely missed.
New York had some bright moments and tested the RSL defense on a few occasions over the final 15 minutes, but they appeared to run out of gas -- understandable after chasing the game for 86 minutes at high altitude.
Real Salt Lake won’t have much time to dwell on tonight’s match, as they hit the road Thursday night for an ESPN2 match against the Seattle Sounders. The Red Bulls return home for a match with playoff implications as they host the Colorado Rapids.
For the latest insider info on all things RSL, follow Jeremy on Twitter @RSL_Jeremy
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
First Half
Real Salt Lake started out red-hot and wasted no time, opening their account on the Red Bulls in only the fourth minute. A pass by Javier Morales went central to Kyle Beckerman, who flicked it on the first touch with the outside of his foot over the New York back line. Espindola got around Tim Ream and, under heavy duress, just managed to toe poke the ball underneath Greg Sutton to give RSL the early 1-0 lead.
The Red Bulls, down but not out, kept fighting and nearly equalized in the 12th minute. Macoumba Kandji found some space on the right wing and drove a perfectly-placed cross to the far post where Juan Pablo Angel was free. Angel snapped a header to the near post, forcing Nick Rimando to make a difficult diving save.
Salt Lake nearly made it two in the 16th minute thanks to more magic from Morales. The crafty Argentine worked the ball up the right side and beat Danleigh Borman to the byline. He floated a teasing cross to the far post where Andy Williams was running in. But Williams didn't connect solidly, which made the save a bit easier for Sutton.
Espindola nearly earned a brace in the 24th minute. Morales whipped in a free kick from the right side after he was taken down, and Espindola rose up and got his head on it. But the young Argentine, not known for his heading ability, didn’t place it well enough and Sutton was able to snag it.
A fluky play in the 33rd minute nearly netted New York an equalizer. Off a left-sided corner kick by Joel Lindpere, Angel nodded a weak header toward goal. Thierry Henry took a swing at the bouncing ball and missed, but his action threw off Rimando, who misplayed it and the ball appeared to be headed in the goal, but Williams cleared it off the line at the last minute.
Just two minutes later, again RSL nearly doubled their advantage as Chris Wingert put in a cross from the left side. Robbie Findley got clear at the top of the six and headed the cross on goal, but Sutton made an outstanding reaction save to clear the ball.
Second Half
Salt Lake were reeling as they came out of the locker room as New York began to dominate the match. A low cross from Seth Stammler in the 54th minute was nearly knocked in for an own goal by Jamison Olave. On the ensuing corner kick, a header by Angel was well-saved by Rimando, and his shot on the rebound was cleared off the line by Beckerman.
Unable to find an equalizer, New York were forced to commit more resources into the attack, leaving themselves dangerously exposed in the back. In the 73rd minute, RSL nearly capitalized as they worked a counterattack. Williams slotted a through-ball in for Findley on the left side, who cut it back into the middle and fired a low, hard shot on goal. But Sutton dove to his right and got just enough on it to deflect it wide for a corner.
In minute 75 Morales got fouled outside the box once more, and once more he came very close to converting the free kick, missing just inches over. And several times over the next few minutes, Real either had great chances saved or they just barely missed.
New York had some bright moments and tested the RSL defense on a few occasions over the final 15 minutes, but they appeared to run out of gas -- understandable after chasing the game for 86 minutes at high altitude.
Real Salt Lake won’t have much time to dwell on tonight’s match, as they hit the road Thursday night for an ESPN2 match against the Seattle Sounders. The Red Bulls return home for a match with playoff implications as they host the Colorado Rapids.
For the latest insider info on all things RSL, follow Jeremy on Twitter @RSL_Jeremy
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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
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