Real Salt Lake forward Joao Plata keeps up his amazing 2014 run early in the match in the 2nd minute of play as he bested Omar Gonzalez to have a clear shot at the net that went wide right. He kept up the intensity winning ball after ball culminating in the 19th minute with a beautiful pass to Alvaro Sabario who was wide open for a shot past LA keeper Brian Perk.
Joao Plata now stands at two goals and two assists for 2014. His amazing run came to a dramatic stop when he was pulled out of the game with a injury to his hamstring in the 36th minute. Olmes Garcia, who replaced Plata just couldn’t seem to get in step with Sabario for the rest of the match and the intensity that RSL has shown the first 30 minutes was never regained through the rest of the match.
LA was able to pull even with RSL in the 35th minutes when Robbie Keane made a beautiful run after Chris Wingert lost the ball at midfield and Keane was able to get past Chris Schuler and fire one into the net.
Schuler had a great game other than that misstep against Keane winning almost every challenge that he had.
This was the first week that the regular officials have been back in the pitch since their lockout ended, and it certainly appeared that they were a bit rusty. They appeared to be behind the play most of the match and lacked consistency. We can only hope that they get back into form very quickly.
Next week RSL hosts Toronto FC at Rio Tinto Stadium. Toronto has been hot so far this season behind newcomers to the club Jermain Defoe and Michael Bradley, while RSL has been plagued with early injuries, particularly in the attacking half of the field.