Third 0-0 Draw in a Row
Real Salt Lake and the Vancouver Whitecaps played to a 0-0 draw Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.
The regular season finale featured a chance for Salt Lake to move ahead of Eastern Conference foes in the standings and improve its chances to get into the CONCACAF Champions League and host MLS Cup.
In leaving points on the table, the home side made both perks of a successful season far less likely and enters the postseason winless in three consecutive matches.
Things got started slowly, although Alvaro Saborio did crack a shot from 35 yards out that sent Brad Knighton diving to the ground in the 6th minute.
Vancouver had chances as well. Alan Rochat took a dangerous free kick in the 29th minute that made it past the wall and fell just to the left side of goal.
Rochat had another opportunity in the 37th minute. This time his shot was on frame but Kyle Reynish was able to make a leaping save.
Saborio responded quickly in the 38th minute, driving into the box on a counterattack and firing hard on goal. His shot was deflected high and over the bar by Knighton.
The first half ended as a fairly boring affair with few credible chances for either side, though Salt Lake dominated possession.
The second half started with Vancouver playing much better. The visitors appeared to score in the 57th minute when Darren Mattocks headed in a loose ball near the goal; however, the scorer was offside and the goal negated.
Salt Lake got an opportunity when Ned Grabavoy found Saborio alone on the left side of the box in the 59th minute. The Costa Rican striker tried to cross instead of taking the open shot and the opportunity amounted to nothing.
Luis Gil got a chance in the 69th minute when a Tony Beltran cross fell outside the box and landed at his feet. The 18-year-old fired on goal and forced Knighton to make a diving save on the ground.
Saborio had a chance in the 90th minute when Sebastien Velasquez danced through multiple defenders and sent a cross that the Costa Rican International was able to touch. However, it fell just off frame and left the match scoreless.
The match ended 0-0 as a missed opportunity for Real Salt Lake.
Category: Game Review
