Two Western Conference contenders looking decided out of sync were left on even footing after 90 minutes at Rio Tinto, with two first half mistakes splitting the day’s goals between Real Salt Lake and the visiting LA Galaxy. A breakdown on an early set piece allowed Álvaro Saborío to score his first goal of the season, while a counter attack 15 minutes later saw Robbie Keane earn a 1-1 result for the Galaxy, giving Bruce Arena’s team its first point of the season.
Saborío opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Joao Plata found him unmarked at the far post for the day’s opening goal. In the 34th minute, Chris Schuler’s inability to deal with Keane in transition allowed the Republic of Ireland international to beat Nick Rimando from just inside the 18-yard box. After a second half that saw both teams struggle to create quality chances, the Galaxy had a small measure of redemption for the teams’ result two weeks ago, one that saw RSL take full points out of StubHub Center.
For Real Salt Lake, the result leaves Jeff Cassar’s team undefeated (1-0-2), but after an opening day win in Los Angeles followed by last week’s draw in San Jose, the performance was also the team’s least convincing of the season. Though LA’s late counter attacks failed to replicate Keane’s first half danger, the Galaxy still had multiple chances to exploit RSL late. Unable to convert those threats into shots, LA was forced to settle for a the draw.
While those counters left the host’s defense tested last, it was LA’s back line that was in the spotlight early. In the game’s opening minutes, an error in possession by Omar Gonzalez allowed Plata to go in alone on goal. Los Angeles were lucky to see the Ecuadorian push his shot wide of Brian Perk’s left post, missing out on his third goal of the season.
In the 19th minute, Plata made up for his miss, severing a perfect ball to Saborío after he was left unmarked short on a restart. Saborío was equally unmarked 12 yards from goal, even with the far post. After taking a touch and drawing Park off his line, the Costa Rican international fished into the far side of goal to make it 1-0, RSL.
With few opportunities over the next quarter-hour, the Galaxy appeared on track to their second loss of the season to RSL. Two weeks ago in Carson, Calif., a Plata goal helped Real Salt Lake open the season with a 1-0 win at Home Depot Center. Just after the half-hour mark, however, a trademark Galaxy counter ensured Saturday’s result would be different.
After winning a ball along the right flank, LA burst into a counterattack led by Keane. The Galaxy captain never saw Schuler, playing his first game of the season, stop his advances. After subtly steering Schuler to the middle of the park, Keane quickly moved back onto his right foot and finished inside Rimando’s left post, giving the U.S. international no chance to stop the equalizer.
Though Nick Grabavoy would go close in the second half, forcing Perk into a diving save to defend his right post, the game’s final 45 minutes were defined by a lack of chances. With Plata having left in the first half with an apparent leg injury, RSL was missing an important, linking piece. And while the Galaxy improved on the performance they gave in Tijuana on Tuesday, Bruce Arena’s team continued to look flawed at the back, something their periodic success going forward could not overshadow.
Through two games, LA remains winless, though the away result gave the team their first point of the season. For Real Salt Lake, it’s a second straight game were the team couldn’t defend an early lead. While Chris Schuler’s return from ankle surgery should allow the team to start addressing that concern, the slips have allowed the team’s last two opponents to come back and claim points that could have been preserved.