Washington, D.C. (Sunday Aug. 13, 2017) – Real Salt Lake (8-12-5, 29 pts) downed Eastern Conference foe D.C. United in the Nation’s Capitol 1-0 on Sunday, behind FW Luis Silva’s second goal of the 2017 regular season. The victory - RSL’s third consecutive away from home, extending an overall six-game unbeaten run - vaults the club to within three points of the “red line” cutoff for the sixth and final postseason spot in the MLS Western Conference, with nine games remaining.
RSL couldn’t maintain much possession or pass completion in the game’s first 29 minutes which were played before Saturday night’s lightning delay, surrendering the lone shot on target in the half hour as D.C. outshot RSL 6-1 in that time. During the remaining moments of the first half played on Sunday, RSL was put on the collective back foot by D.C. United, as United defender Ike Opara held the best chance of the first half, rattling the crossbar just before halftime.
Both teams settled into the second half of play as RSL and United created more chances in each attacking end. It took 65 minutes for the breakthrough to come, as Silva slammed home a curling volley past D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid for the game’s first and ultimately only goal, dashing hopes of his former club.
RSL GK Nick Rimando wasn’t called on much in the match, having to make three saves and commanding his penalty area by picking off crosses and organizing his defenders. Tonight’s clean sheet was Rimando’s 135th of his illustrious MLS career, the “Wall of the Wasatch” recording 99 for the Claret and Cobalt since his 2007 arrival from D.C.
By taking three points away from the Nation’s capital, RSL departs from RFK Stadium for the final time with its first-ever win in 11 attempts at United across all competitions, now 1-7-3 all-time.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake completes the final Eastern Conference road trip of 2017 on next Saturday, August 19, at Stade Saputo against Montreal Impact (5:30 p.m. MT kickoff). RSL is 0-2-0 all time in Quebec, while last year was RSL and the Impact play to a 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium in early July, with FW Yura Movsisyan scoring the lone goal for the Utah side.
GOAL-SCORING RUNDOWN:
Luis Silva, 65th minute: A poor clearance from DC MF Marcelo Sarvas handed Silva a chance to intercept the clearance with a chance on goal. As he intercepted the pass, the ball popped into the air and Silva volleyed the shot to find the far-side netting with a thunderous strike for his second goal of the year.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
RSL – Nick Rimando, 6th minute: D.C. United midfielder Nick DeLeon cut in from left edge of the area inside and took his chance on goal. Nick Rimando parried it away and it was cleared for a corner.
RSL – Nick Rimando, 42nd minute: Some magical play from United midfielder Luciano Acosta created a chance on goal after he danced around multiple RSL defenders. His attempted pass across the box took a deflection but Rimando was there to save.
DC – Bill Hamid, 71st minute: A corner kick from RSL midfielder Joao Plata found the head of defender Marcelo Silva. His headed effort skipped off the turf and into the hands of a diving Hamid.
NOTES:
- A weather delay after 29 minutes forced match officials to abandon the match on Saturday after lightning and torrential thunderstorms caused field and stadium flooding. The remaining 71 minutes were played on Sunday.
- RSL extended its active unbeaten streak to six games, while securing three straight wins on the road for just the third time in team history, and the first time since the Summer of 2013 (2006 also).
- RSL is now 1-7-3 all-time in regular season and Open Cup play at RFK Stadium, after notching tonight’s 1-0 win in D.C.
- RSL have scored just three goals in the opening half-hour of matches thus far in 2017, the lowest total in Major League Soccer.
- Tonight’s shutout extended the club’s active streak without allowing a goal to 210 minutes.
Match: Real Salt Lake at D.C. United
Date: August 13, 2017
Venue: RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
Attendance: 14,193
Weather: Cloudy and 83 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 1 1
D.C. United 0 0 0
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake: (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, Marcelo Silva, Justen Glad, Chris Wingert; Kyle Beckerman, Sunny (Luke Mulholland, 90’), Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnák, Joao Plata (Brooks Lennon, 78’); Luis Silva (Yura Movsisyan, 68’)
Subs not used: Lalo Fernandez, David Horst, Danilo Acosta, Sebastián Saucedo
D.C. United: (3-4-3): Bill Hamid; Sean Franklin, Steve Birnbaum, Kofi Opare, Chris Odoi-Atsem (Julian Buescher, 81’); Marcelo Sarvas, Jared Jeffrey (Bruno Miranda, 71’); Paul Arriola, Luciano Acosta, Nick DeLeon; Deshorn Brown (Patrick Mullins, 37’)
Subs not used:Travis Worra, Chris Korb, Jalen Robinson, Russell Canouse
Stats Summary: DC/RSL
Shots: 13 / 11
Shots on Goal: 3 / 5
Saves: 3 / 3
Corner Kicks: 3 / 7
Fouls: 9 / 14
Offside: 1 / 3
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL – Chris Wingert (caution) 62’
DC – Paul Arriola (caution) 64’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Drew Fischer
Assistant Referees: Gianni Facchini, Phil Briere
4th Official: Nima Saghafi
VAR: Luis Guardia
