SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake’s season is on life support, and it’s unfamiliar territory for the club.
RSL dropped a physical, 1-0 result Wednesday night to the visiting Portland Timbers at Rio Tinto Stadium thanks to a controversial penalty kick call in the 52nd minute. And it has RSL on the verge of missing their first MLS playoff berth in seven years.
Timbers forward Fanendo Adi buried the spot kick and effectively ended RSL’s playoff chances. Obviously, Salt Lake felt the effects in the locker room after the match.
“A lot of emotions: dejected, frustrated,” defender Tony Beltran said. “We knew what we had to do, and we failed. I’m proud of the boys’ fight in difficult circumstances playing a man down. It felt like in the second half we were really pushing, really putting them under pressure, but it’s going to keep coming back to opportunity and we didn't capitalize.”
The defining moment of the match came in the 52nd minute when Jamison Olave tripped up Timbers forward Lucas Melano at the edge of the penalty area. Referee Juan Guzman consulted with his assistant and showed the RSL defender a red card and awarded a penalty kick to the visitors.
A testy exchange between Javier Morales and the referees ensued.
“I talked with the referee on the penalty, and I told him I thought it was maybe a red card but outside of the box,” Morales said. “Because we’re fighting for a spot in the playoff and that’s crucial. A moment can change the game because a free kick is different from a penalty kick.”
“I talked to the linesman. I said that we’re playing for a spot in the playoff. Try to be smart. If you’re not sure, don’t call it. … After the penalty the game changed.”
RSL came alive after Adi converted, and Morales led the charge.
The ageless Argentine put two shots on frame in the second half, one a dangerous deflected shot in stoppage time and another a spectacular, dipping volley. Timbers goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey saved both.
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In RSL’s up-and-down season, Wednesday night’s match was a harsh reminder that mistakes in Major League Soccer do not go unpunished. Olave’s red card was the team’s ninth of the year. That indiscipline, poor road form and player absences all contributed to RSL’s downfall.
“It’s been a tough season, a transitional year, changing formation, different personnel, injuries and call-ups,” midfielder Luke Mulholland said. “Obviously you don’t want to be pointing out all the excuses now. We’ve got to take it on our chins and learn from it and grow from it. Obviously now, our main concern is the Champion’s League.”
RSL, who now trail the sixth-place Timbers and fifth-place Seattle Sounders by six points, round out the season with a home match Saturday against FC Dallas and away Oct. 25 against the Sounders. RSL’s decisive group-stage CONCACAF Champions League match comes Oct. 20 at home against CSD Municipal.
