Nick Rimando – Photo Rob Gray
Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT – Nick Rimando is now the sole owner of all-time Major League wins as he surpassed Kevin Hartman with his 181st win. Nick is already the all-time MLS leader in shutouts (126) and minutes played (37,323) and is knocking on the record for games played (needs 4) and saves (needs 49). Hard to believe he has never been Goalkeeper of the year.
As a bonus Real Salt Lake finally gets a full 3 points at home for the first time since June 22nd. While still unbeaten at home in MLS competition, RSL has been disappointed to not take advantage of the home crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium, but tonight in front of 19,909 screaming fans the entire club was firing on all cylinders as they handily defeated the Chicago Fire.
Olmes Garcia
The Claret and Cobalt got off to a fast start with Olmes Garcia, who appears to back at full form, was able to get his first goal of the season when he took advantage of a screened Matt Lampson to put RSL on top in the 14th minute of play. After the goal Olmes was given a yellow card for celebration as he lifted his jersey to show another shirt with a message to his parents written on it.
RSL continued their relentless attack and it paid off again when in the 27th minute Juan Manuel Martinez is taken out by Eric Gehrig in the box and Silviu Petrescu points to the spot. Javier Morales steps up and is too much for Lampson to handle and makes it RSL 2 CHI 0.
Chicago was the first to strike in the second half in the 58th minute when Nick LaBrocca hit a beautiful cross that Arturo Alverez was able to capitalize on end deny RSL the shutout.
Any rumor of a Chicago comeback was put to rest when Javier Morales completed his brace as he was able to elude Razvan Cocis and hit the post before the ball found the net.
Yura Movsisyan was able to get another weeks rest before he hits the pitch again although he was ready if he was needed.
RSL jumped to 3rd place in the west with this win, as they enter the home stretch of the 2016 MLS season.
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 2 1 3
Chicago Fire 0 1 1
Scoring Summary:
RSL – Olmes Garcia – 14′
RSL – Javier Morales – 28′
CHI – Arturo Alverez – 58′
RSL – Javier Morales – 64′
Misconduct Summary:
RSL – Olmes Garcia – 15′ – Celebration
CHI – Nick LaBrocca – 35′ – Foul
Referee: Siviu Petrescu
Assistant Referee: Adam Garner
Assistant Referee: Mike Rottersman
4th Official: Armando Villarreal
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake: Nick Rimando; Jamison Olave; Justen Glad; Demar Phillips; Chris Wingert (Tony Beltran, 59′); Kyle Beckerman (C); Javier Morales; Luke Mulholland (John Stertzer, 82′); Juan Manuel Martinez (Omar Holness, 88′); Joao Plata; Olmes Garcia
Substitutes Not Used: Jeff Attinella; Tony Beltran; Aaron Maund; Yura Movsisyan; Devon Sandoval
Chicago Fire: Matt Lampson; Brandon Vincent; Jonathan Campbell; Eric Gehrig; Michael Harrington; Michael Stephens; Nick LaBrocca; Davic Accam (C) (John Goosens, HT); Arturo Alverez (Johan Kappelhof, 68′); Luis Solignac; Michael de Leeuw (Razva Cocis, HT)
Substitutes Not Used: Sean Johnson; Joey Calistri; Drew Conner; Patrick Doody
Next up for RSL
Real Salt Lake travels to CenturyLink Field on Sunday, August 14th to take on the Seattle Sounders.