Real Salt Lake was missing several key players, such as Alvaro Saborio, Will Johnson and Nat Borchers, when they took on the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night, but there was still enough quality in the RSL lineup to keep the team climbing toward the lead pack in the Western Conference.
Kyle Beckerman blasted home a long-range goal, while centerback Chris Schuler added a header goal of his own to help Real Salt Lake post a 2-1 victory over the Union at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday night.
RSL jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute when Beckerman belted home a right-footed blast from 26 yards out. Schuler made it 2-0 when he beat Sheanon Williams to a corner kick, heading home from six yards away.
The Union responded in the 30th minute when Sebastien LeToux volleyed home a perfect cross from Justin Mapp to make the score 2-1, but that goal was the best chance the Philadelphia attack mustered all night.
Philadelphia's offense produced just one other shot on goal after LeToux's goal, and still couldn't get going against RSL's defense even after the introduction of Freddy Adu in the second half.
The loss dropped the Union to 8-7-12, leaving the club winless in six matches. Philadelphia will be looking for all three points against New England on Wednesday, with a chance to move into second place in the East with a victory.
The victory improved RSL to 12=7-6, pushing the team to within four points of FC Dallas for third place in the Western Conference.
Beckerman will leave RSL to join the U.S. national team for its upcoming friendly against Belgium on Tuesday.
Here are the match highlights.
What did you think of the match? Impressed with RSL scoring a victory despite missing so many players? Starting to worry about the Union, or do you see them turning it around against some weaker opponents in coming weeks?
Share your thoughts below.
