The game in 100 words (or less): Columbus Crew SC’s tiresome run of having not won a single game away from home continued on Saturday night, as they settle for a 2-2 draw with Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium, though Gregg Berhalter’s side did come from behind twice in the game to earn a solid road point and solidify their place as a playoff team in the Eastern Conference (fifth place). For the visitors, it was more of the same old story — going down early and playing from behind suits their attacking mindset to a T, but continues to hold them back and forces them to settle for a point when three were possible with just a bit more focus and thought given to the defensive end of the field. Meanwhile, RSL sit in eighth in the Western Conference, three points out of the sixth and final playoff place.
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Three moments that mattered
36' — RSL take the lead with set-piece magic — “Magic” doesn’t even do this exquisite set-piece routine justice. It went Luke Mulholland’s -> Kyle Beckerman’s foot -> Joao Plata’s head -> Olmes Garcia’s foot -> back of the net. Just watch this beauty.
46' — Jaime keeps the play alive, gets rewarded — Sebastian Jaime would not let the play die when Emanuel Pogatetz looked to be ushering a long, bouncing ball back to goalkeeper Steve Clark. Jaime chased the ball endlessly, won it off Pogatetz and chipped it past Clark from just outside the penalty area.
62' — Finlay grabs Crew SC’s second equalizer of the game — Kei Kamara fed Federico Higuain out wide, where the Argentine drove toward the endline, crossed to the back post and Ethan Finlay finished with ease. A classic Crew SC goal.
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Man of the match: Ethan Finlay — Another goal and another assist for Finlay, who now has three and nine on the season, respectively. So capable of operating in all areas of the attacking third — out wide and through the center — he’s a nightmare to track and mark.
LINEUPS
Real Salt Lake: Rimando, Mansally (Allen 67'), Kavita, Maund, Beltran, Beckerman, Mulholland, Plata (Okwuonu 80'), Gil, Garcia, Jaime (Sandoval 67')
Goals: Garcia (36'), Jaime (46')
Columbus Crew SC: Clark, Francis (Wahl 81'), Pogatetz, Parkhurst, Jimenez (Barson 62'), Tchani, Saeid, Meram (Steindorsson 67'), Higuain, Finlay, Kamara
Goals: Tchani (42'), Finlay (62')