This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Real Salt Lake is 1-0 in the 2015 Desert Diamond Cup. RSL topped last year's 2014 Eastern Conference champion New England Revolution 1-0 in the opening match of the annual preseason tournament in Tucson, Ariz., Wednesday evening. Forward Devon Sandoval scored a sixth-minute penalty kick after midfielder John Stertzer was fouled in the box by Revolution defender Darrius Barnes.
Sandoval, playing up top as part of RSL's new 4-3-3 formation, went low and to the right, by the outstretched arms of New England goalkeeper Brad Knighton. That goal proved to be the difference. Goalkeeper Jeff Attinella went 90 minutes and earned the clean sheet.
Coach Jeff Cassar trotted out a largely second-team starting lineup in the Desert Diamond Cup opener. MLS SuperDraft second-round pick Boyd Okwuonu started at right back opposite Abdoulie Mansally while Guatemalan center back Elias Vasquez — expected to officially sign with the club soon — earned the start alongside Aaron Maund.
Draft pick Lucas Baldin started in the middle of RSL's three-man midfield alongside Stertzer and Luke Mulholland. Partnering with Sandoval up top were RSL Homegrown signings Jordan Allen and Park City's Sebastian Saucedo.
In the 60th minute, Cassar changed out his 10 field players for a group that could be the odds on group to start when — err, if — the regular season starts on March 7 in Portland. Tony Beltran, Chris Schuler, Jamison Olave and new left back Demar Phillips held the back line for the final 30-plus minutes of the match, while Kyle Beckerman, Luis Gil and Javier Morales took over in the midfield.
Strikers Alvaro Saborio, Sebastian Jaime and Olmes Garcia replaced Allen, Sandoval and Saucedo up top.
Next up for RSL at the Desert Diamond Cup is a match against PDL side FC Tucson on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 6 p.m. The match will be live streamed on www.realsaltlake.com as well as www.kutv.com.
-Chris Kamrani
Twitter: @chriskamrani