Real Salt Lake Rallies To Tie Rapids 1-1
Deshorn Brown had a late first-half goal for the Rapids (0-2-1).Salt Lake (1-1-1) earned a key point as it tries to win the rivalry series for the seventh straight year.
Colorado lost starting goalkeeper Matt Pickens in the third minute when he broke his right forearm defending Kyle Beckerman's corner kick. Pickens poked away the ball as it hooked toward the goalmouth and RSL defender Kwame Watson-Siriboe headed his right wrist. The goalkeeper crumpled to the ground in front of the goalmouth, was helped off the field and taken to a hospital.
Pickens has set club records for shutouts (29) and wins (41) since joining the team in a trade with Chicago in 2009. He played a key role in helping the Rapids claim the 2010 MLS Cup.
RSL dominated possession for long stretches and controlled the ball nearly 70 percent of the time during the first half. Still, the Rapids struck first.
Brown capitalized on a mistake by Chris Schuler in the 37th minute. He stole the ball from Schuler and got behind him with only Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando to beat. Brown threaded the ball inside the far post beyond Rimando's outstretched arms.
Salt Lake created 11 shots but only two of those were on frame. Pickens saved the first – a left-footer from Beckerman – before being injured on the ensuing corner kick. Clint Irwin, his replacement, made the second save in the 41st minute when he snagged a right-footer from Luis Gil near the top left corner.
Saborio tied it in the 80th minute. Joao Plata ended up with the ball following a fight for possession inside the box and fed it to Saborio on the right side. The RSL forward drilled a right-footer into the opposite corner. Salt Lake is 31-5-6 when Saborio scores.
- By JOHN COON, Associated Press
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