SANDY, Ut. - Real Salt Lake may have needed to call in the cavalry, but they got the job done.
RSL threw everything they had at visiting Santa Tecla FC for the better part of the Wednesday night's Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League match, but goalkeeper Juan Trinidad and Rio Tinto Stadium's own woodwork denied everything that the home side threw at them. Santa Tecla surprisingly broke through first, but RSL made some key substitutions and rallied to a 2-1 victory.
The win keeps the MLS side in pole position in Group G with one matchday left, with a result needed against second-place Municipal in the group stage finale on Oct. 20 in Rio Tinto to clinch passage to the knockout stage.
Santa Tecla’s goalkeeper, Juan Trinidad, had four huge saves throughout the match, all of this despite picking up an apparent hamstring knock early in the first half. RSL’s attack supplied plenty of dangerous opportunities but they just couldn’t solve the Salvadoran ‘keeper early on.
Right before the halftime break, the hometown crowd was treated to an agonizingly close display of the attack as Joao Plata’s half volley was athletically saved followed by a header from Sebastian Jaime that rebounded off the crossbar and away from danger.
Everything changed in the 61st minute, however, when Santa Tecla snatched a goal seemingly out of nowhere.
The visitors lumped a ball forward on the break and forward Irvin Herrera held off two separate challenges from RSL’s defense to sneak a quick shot between Jeff Attinella’s legs to grab the lead. It was Santa Tecla’s first shot of the half.
RSL head coach Jeff Cassar had seen enough and chose to make a double substitution in the 65th minute, opting to bring on the big guns. Javier Morales and Kyle Beckerman both entered the match and that’s when things started to change.
Morales proved Cassar’s tactical acumen was sound less than ten minutes later when he drove a beautiful cross into the box. Olmes Garcia rose up and headed the ball into the back of the net, looping it over Trinidad and giving him no chance at a save.
Following that, Cassar’s third sub of the match, Juan Manuel Martinez, would provide the game winner.
Morales again would prove to be creator as he sent a through ball ahead of RSL’s newest addition, springing him in on goal. Martinez got on the end of the pass and coolly chipped the ‘keeper to give the home side the 2-1 lead.
RSL will next travel to San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday (7 pm ET, FS1) as they continue their climb back into the Major League Soccer playoff race.
