MLSsoccer.com Recap - RSL 1 : 1 D.C. United
SANDY, Utah — D.C. United countered Real Salt Lake’s penalty kick
with a late goal of their own from the spot as they played to a 1-1 draw
at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday night.
Second-half sub Charlie Davies ended up being the difference,
converting his spot kick after being dragged down in the box in the 83rd
minute by Chris Wingert.
DC were the aggressors early on, controlling much of the possession
through the first 20 minutes and created a couple of chances in the
process.
The first came in the 18th minute when a diagonal ball was delivered
to Andy Najar, who appeared to have space in front of him, but RSL
defender Jámison Olave came in with a well-timed sliding challenge that
halted the opportunity.
A few minutes later it was Real Salt Lake’s turn to put the fans on
the edge of their seats. Collen Warner broke free down the right side
and delivered a low cross that just missed the outstretched foot of the
onward rushing Jean Alexandre. The ball went through the goalmouth and
was collected by Andy Williams, but his shot attempt went directly into
the torso of the well-positioned Bill Hamid in the United net.
Midway through the half, RSL started to take the edge of possession,
creating additional chances in the process. They hit payday in the 38th
minute, when pressure just inside the penalty area led to a call on
Clyde Simms for handling the ball. Fabián Espíndola stepped up to the
spot and pushed it the opposite direction of the diving Hamid and into
the net.
DC head coach Ben Olsen brought Dax McCarty on after haltime in
favor of Simms to bring a stronger attacking mind set into the midfield
in an effort to find the equalizer. That nearly came just a few minutes
into the second stanza when Chris Pontius launched a shot from outside
the 18-yard box that struck the crossbar.
Real Salt Lake countered immediately with a nice flick-on from Ned
Grabavoy to Warner with a run into space near the penalty area.
However, Warner ended up with a low angle shot that Hamid easily
deflected.
Just after the 80th minute it appeared that the game was headed to a
1-0 result, but United found a counterattack opportunity in the 83rd
after an RSL set piece. Davies and Fred led the breakout chance, with
three defenders struggling to keep pace.
Defender Wingert ended up taking Davies down in the box, and the US
international converted the ensuing penalty to bring the score level at
one. The strike was Davies’ seventh of the season and first since May 4.
DC got one last chance in the dying minutes as Pontius again hit the crossbar, but United earned their point at Rio Tinto.
With the draw, Real Salt Lake move to 6-3-4 and are now winless in
three straight. They next travel to Chicago on June 22. D.C. United,
meanwhile, move to 4-5-5; they host Houston on June 25.
Scoring Summary:
RSL -- Fabian Espindola 4 (penalty kick) 38
DC -- Charlie Davies 7 (penalty kick) 85
Misconduct:
DC -- Blake Brettschneider (caution; Tactical Foul) 65
Lineups:
D.C. United -- Bill Hamid, Jed Zayner, Perry
Kitchen, Ethan White, Daniel Woolard, Andy Najar, Stephen King (Fred
78), Clyde Simms (Dax McCarty 46), Chris Pontius, Blake Brettschneider,
Josh Wolff (Charlie Davies 62).
Real Salt Lake -- Nick Rimando, Tony Beltran,
Jamison Olave, Nat Borchers, Chris Wingert (Robbie Russell 86), Andy
Williams, Kyle Beckerman, Collen Warner (Will Johnson 66), Ned Grabavoy,
Jean Alexandre, Fabian Espindola (Artur Aghasyan 83).
Referee: Terry Vaughn
Referee's Assistants: Kermit Quisenberry; Jeff Hosking
4th Official: Elias Bazakos
Attendance: 16,841
Time of Game: 1:51
Weather: Cloudy and 78 degrees