This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated.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. • Real Salt Lake can thank Fabian Espindola for Saturday's 1-1 tie with the Philadelphia Union.
He single-handedly earned his team a point with a game-tying goal in the 53rd minute.
"It was a little bit lucky because [the defender] touched it, but then I had a pretty good shot and it was a goal," Espindola said. "I tried to put the ball right next to the post, and it was lucky."
It was Espindola's second goal in the past three matches and third of the season. He has had at least one shot on goal in each of the past four matches since re-entering the starting lineup.
"In the first half, we played horrible," Espindola said. "In the second half, we played better and we scored. We did the job, I think.
"[The way] the first half [went], we should've lost 4-1 or 5-1, but they didn't score and they didn't take the chances. We [got the tie], and I'm happy."
Real Salt Lake has been in desperate need of a guy such as Espindola to step up.
After starting the season by winning five of its first six matches, the team has won just one of its past six.
After losing key players such as Javier Morales, Paulo Araujo Jr., Will Johnson and Alvaro Saborio to call-ups and injuries, RSL inserted Espindola into the starting lineup, and he has been called upon as a team leader.
"Fabian, right now, has been our difference-maker in the last few games," said Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis.
"He's been the guy who's been getting into spaces. He's been an important, important player for us in the last three games. He has scored two goals, and he's probably been working as hard, if not harder, than any player on the field."