RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT – Nick Rimando came up big with a “Save of the Season” stop to lead RSL in a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo. Rimando’s double save to keep RSL in the lead will certainly get a Save of the Week nomination, but it was also notable for his deft use of his face to keep out the rebound. Salt Lake announcer Brian Dunseth worked in a Scott Sterling reference; you should watch this video if that went over your head.
Javier Morales and Sunny were back in the starting XI tonight and it was definitely needed as Houston came to Rio Tinto Stadium looking to turn their bottom of the table year. Both looked a little slower than we are used to seeing, but it was enough to provide the catalyst to a team looking to recover from an uncharacteristic performance last week against the LA Galaxy.
RSL defender Aaron Maund
The play was physical and it made a difference early as Aaron Maund left the match in the 36th minute with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Jamison Olave. Even with the many great chances, the score was 0-0 as the teams took the half time break.
As the second half began the RSL defense was bending, and in the 54th minute they did break. Leonel Miranda was on the receiving end of a Giles Barnes pass and fired a shot from the top of the eighteen, and after a deflection off of Jamison Olave it sailed passed Nick Rimando, who had not chance at getting there in time.
Jordan Allen shoots and scores
Salt Lake came back with a vengeance in the 61st minute when Justen Glad got his first career assist on a feed to Jordan Allen to equalize on only Allen’s second career goal. It only took eight more minutes for RSL to score the go-ahead goal on a beautiful Demar Phillips cross into the box to a streaking Yura Movsisyan who put the ball in the net.
With the win Real Salt Lake moves to 4-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium in front of 19,950 screaming fans, this is even more important as they head out on an unprecedented road trip for the next six matches. The next time RSL will be in Rio Tinto is June 18th.
Rimando just produced the save of my year. My god. #RSLvHOU
— Matthew Doyle (@MLSAnalyst) May 1, 2016
Here’s another look. Nick. Dang. Nick. pic.twitter.com/IMEuaJW1UI
— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) May 1, 2016
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 2 2
Houston Dynamo 0 1 1
Scoring Summary:
HOU – Leonel Miranda – 54′
RSL – Jordan Allen – 62′
RSL – Yura Movsisyan – 70′
Misconduct Summary:
HOU – DaMarcus Beasley – 3′
HOU – Ricardo Clark – 24′
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando; Aaron Maund (Jamison Olave, 36′); Demar Phillips; Justen Glad; Tony Betran; Sunny (Luke Mulholland, 85′); Kyle Beckerman; Jordan Allen; Javier Morales; Juan Manuel Martinez (Devon Sandoval, 88′); Yura Movsisyan
Substitutes Not Used: Jeff Attinella; Olmes Garcia; John Stertzer; Chris Wingert
Houston Dynamo (1-4-2 5 pts): Joe Willis; Shaenon Williams; Raul Rodrriguez; Agus; DaMarcus Beasley (Cristian Maidana, 83′); Andrew Wenger; Ricardo Clark; Boniek Garcia (Erick Torres, 83′); Collen Warner (Will Bruin, 75′); Leonel Miranda; Giles Barnes
Substitutes Not Used: Calle Brown; David Horst; Abdoulie Mansally; David Rocha
Next up for RSL:
Real Salt Lake starts a very extended road stretch on May 7th for the second installment of the Rocky Mountain Cup against the Colorado Rapids.