Real Salt Lake entered Monday's match against New England as a heavy favorite expected to win easily. That expectation changed quite a bit after a highly-questionable red card and penalty call just three minutes into the match threatened to doom RSL.
New England took advantage of the early call to jump out to a 2-0 lead, but Real Salt Lake battled back, tying the score at 2-2, and then shaking off a Shalrie Joseph header with a Fabian Espindola goal in the 83rd minute to give RSL a 3-3 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium on Monday night.
Referee Yader Reyes had a shocker, blowing the call on a third-minute penalty that gave New England a penalty kick and RSL defender Nat Borchers a red card. Rajko Lekic scored, and Chris Tierney added a second goal, which made it appear as though RSL was doomed, but the Western Conference power proceeded to dominate the run of play despite being a man down and eventually erased the two-goal deficit on another questionable penalty call.
Shalrie Joseph headed home a goal to halt RSL's momentum, and give New England a 3-2 lead, but a Ryan Cochrane red card leveled the playing field, and Real Salt Lake took advantage by dismantling New England's defense as Alvaro Saborio laid off a perfect pass to Espindola for the game-tying goal.
Here are the match highlights:
What did you think of the match? Impressed with RSL's performance while down a man? Think New England is the worst team in MLS?
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