This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Chester, Pa. • Sometimes a tie is a win. That was especially the case for Real Salt Lake in its 1-1 tie Saturday with the Philadelphia Union.
After being outplayed for the entire first half, RSL tied it up at 1-1 in the 53rd minute when Jean Alexandre kicked the ball ahead to Fabian Espindola up the left sideline. With no teammates between him and the goal, Espindola dribbled past Union defender Carlos Valdes and struck the ball with his left foot past goalie Faryd Mondragon just inside the right post.
Espindola's goal was the only shot on goal in the entire match for Real Salt Lake. But after a lackluster first half, RSL stepped it up in the second half on both ends to earn the tie. The way the team has been struggling lately, it was a positive result for Real Salt Lake to leave Philadelphia with a point, something RSL can build on going forward.
"We're struggling right now," RSL midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "We're so thin pretty much everywhere with the Gold Cup and injuries. [The Union have] been playing really well at home.
"We're playing with a lot of new guys, so we just had to battle. But it was a tale of two halves. We felt like we were the home team in the second half."
The Union dominated the first half and were tougher and more physical than Real Salt Lake. The Union outshot Real Salt Lake 8-1 overall and 5-0 in shots on goal in the first 45 minutes. Philadelphia also had four corner kicks, as opposed to none for Real Salt Lake before the half.
"It was a tale of two halves," RSL coach Jason Kreis said. "In the first half, we were fortunate that we only allowed one goal."
And it wasn't just a matter of being outmuscled. Real Salt Lake also made a number of mental mistakes. In the 18th minute, Robbie Russell took his eye off the ball in the backfield with no opposing players in sight and watched it roll past him and out of bounds. Later, in the 44th minute, Russell was awarded a yellow card after tripping Sebastien Le Toux 10 yards outside the box with no defenders behind Russell.
In the 22nd minute, Philadelphia's Keon Daniel caught up to a long through-ball down the left sideline and dribbled into the box. He then crossed it to Le Toux, whose initial shot was saved by RSL keeper Nick Rimando. Le Toux scored on the rebound, but the play was drawn dead on a late call by the linesman, who ruled Daniel offside.
The Union continued to attack, and in the 24th minute, Michael Farfan got into the box and sent a cross into the air that was headed into the back of the net by Daniel to give Philadelphia a 1-0 lead.
Real Salt Lake (6-3-3), which has just one win in its past six matches, will return to the pitch Saturday at home against D.C. United.
"At this point in the season, it just seems like every team goes through a tough time," Beckerman said. "And we're going through it right now, so any points you can get on the road is good."