A second-half penalty by Real Salt Lake split the points with the Montreal Impact on Saturday, in a 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Montreal opened the scoring in the eighth minute, when Laurent Ciman's knuckling free kick was blocked by Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Harry Shipp followed up on the play, and pushed in the subsequent rebound for his first goal as a member of the Impact.
The hosts found the answer late in the second half. After some impressive skills at the endline by Demar Phillips, Joao Plata drew a penalty from Calum Mallace. Yura Movsisyan stepped up on the subsequent spot kick and converted it in the 79th minute to make it 1-1.
Box Score
- 8' - MTL - Harry Shipp
- 79' - RSL - Yura Movsisyan (PK)
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Three Things
- MONTREAL START WELL: The visitors were certainly the better side in the first half, and Shipp's goal appeared to stun RSL. Although Didier Drogba did not feature and Ignacio Piatti was largely kept in check, Montreal defended well, especially in the first half, while RSL sought an equalizer. The Impact will likely be disappointed they couldn't get the victory, but a road draw across the continent is not a bad result.
- RSL GET NEEDED RESULT: Meanwhile, RSL didn't get the win they were looking for, but a comeback draw will likely do them good. Sitting in a good third-place position in the Western Conference, the Utah side has battled back after a disappointing three-game run in the league and US Open Cup, in which they lost two games and dropped two points in the third in disappointing fashion. Time will tell if this game represents an uptick in their form, but it looks like a promising sign.
- OH, SHIPP! One of the other highlights of the night was Shipp grabbing his first goal for Montreal. After a controversial preseason trade from his hometown Chicago Fire, Shipp has now broken his duck for his current club. Will this be the start of a little run?
