Sandy, Utah (Saturday, October 6, 2018) – Real Salt Lake (13-12-7, 46 points) fought back from an early deficit, but three late goals from the Portland Timbers handed RSL its first home loss since March 10, ending a 14-match home unbeaten streak.
FW Jefferson Savarino scored his seventh goal of the season and GK Nick Rimando made four saves, but it wasn’t enough to hold off a late run from the Timbers.
Portland got out to the lead in the first half when Jeremy Ebobisse scored his second goal of the season on a ball whipped in from Sebastian Blanco from the right side of the box. Ebobisse met it with a sliding redirect that went past Rimando and inside the far post to make it 1-0 in the 34th minute. In an otherwise even half, RSL outshot Portland 4-3, but the only shot on frame was the goal from Ebobisse.
RSL looked to gain control in the start of the second half and eventually equalized when Savarino received a pass from FW Joao Plata up the left side of the box and hit a blast past Steve Clark to make it 1-1. But it was all Portland from there as the Timbers got two goals from Sebastian Blanco and another from Lucas Melano for the final 4-1 score line.
Even with the loss, RSL remains above the playoff line, one point ahead of the LA Galaxy with two matches remaining on the regular season schedule.
UP NEXT: MLS heads into an international FIFA break this week and RSL will return to action at Rio Tinto Stadium on Thursday, October 18, against the New England Revolution.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
POR: Jeremy Ebobisse (Sebastian Blanco) 34th minute – Sebastian Blanco got up the right side of the box and crossed the ball, finding Jeremy Ebobisse at the far post, sliding in to knock it back across the goal, hitting the post and scoring for his second goal of the season.
RSL: Jefferson Savarino (Joao Plata) 55th minute – Joao Plata took a pass from Jefferson Savarino on the left side, then found Savarino on a run into the box in space. He crushed a shot past the diving Steve Clark for his seventh goal of the season to equalize at 1-1.
POR: Sebastian Blanco 70th minute – Sebastian Blanco recovered a Justen Glad clearance and carried it up the left side before powering a shot inside the far post for his eight goal of the year to give Portland the 2-1 lead.
POR: Sebastian Blanco (Diego Valeri, Jeremy Ebobisse) 73rd minute – Diego Valeri rolled a ball up the left side of the box toward an onrushing Sebastian Blanco, who hammered a shot inside the far post for his second goal of the match and ninth of the season to increase Portland’s lead to 3-1.
POR: Lucas Melano 88th minute – On a misplayed throw-in, Lucas Melano took a touch around Nick Rimando then put it into the open net for his first goal of the season and the final 4-1 score.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
RSL: Nick Rimando, 48th minute – Jeremy Ebobisse played a ball into the box for Sebastian Blanco, who took a shot from the edge of the six-yard box but Nick Rimando met it off his boot for the point-blank save.
POR: Steve Clark, 52nd minute – Joao Plata took a shot through traffic from 20 yards out, forcing Steve Clark to parry it over the bar for the save.
NOTES:
- The loss ended a 14-match home unbeaten streak for RSL. Salt Lake was 10-0-4 at Rio Tinto Stadium in that stretch.
- MF Albert Rusnák (Slovakia), FW Jefferson Savarino (Venezuela) and DF Shawn Barry (Puerto Rico) are all scheduled to go away on international duty for the upcoming FIFA break.
- At halftime, Real Salt Lake announced the signing of 17-year-old Nibley, Utah, native Julian Vazquez as the club’s 16th Homegrown player.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs. Portland Timbers
Date: October 6, 2018
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 20,034
Weather: Cloudy and 52
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 1 1
Portland Timbers 1 3 4
POR: Jeremy Ebobisse (Sebastian Blanco) 34th minute
RSL: Jefferson Savarino (Joao Plata) 55th minute
POR: Sebastian Blanco 70th minute
POR: Sebastian Blanco (Diego Valeri, Jeremy Ebobisse) 73rd minute
POR: Lucas Melano 88th minute
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Brooks Lennon, Nick Besler, Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera (Sebastian Saucedo 80’); Kyle Beckerman, Damir Kreilach; Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnák, Joao Plata; Corey Baird (Sunny 63’).
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Nedum Onuoha, Shawn Barry, Luke Mulholland, Luis Silva.
Portland Timbers (4-3-3): Steve Clark; Zarek Valentin, Larrys Mabiala, Bill Tuiloma (Julian Cascante 68’), Jorge Fillafaña; David Guzman, Diego Chara; Andy Polo (Dairon Asprilla 92+’), Diego Valeri, Sebastian Blanco; Jeremy Ebobisse (Lucas Melano 77’).
Subs not used: Kendall McIntosh, Lawrence Olum, Andres Flores, Cristhian Parades.
Stats Summary: RSL / POR
Shots: 9 / 13
Shots on Goal: 3 / 8
Saves: 4 / 2
Corner Kicks: 6 / 1
Fouls: 10 / 9
Offside: 2 / 0
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
POR: Diego Chara (Caution) 26’
POR: David Guzman (Caution) 55’
RSL: Kyle Beckerman (Caution) 58’
RSL: Sunny (Caution) 66’
POR: Diego Valeri (Caution) 92+’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Robert Sibiga
Assistant Referees: Eric Weisbrod, Corey Rockwell
4th Official: Drew Fischer
Video Assistant Referee: Guido Gonzalez
