This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Tucson, Ariz. • Chris Wingert's first-half goal proved to be the difference Saturday night, as Real Salt Lake defeated the New York Red Bulls 1-0 in a consolation game of the preseason Desert Diamond Cup tournament at the Kino Sports Complex.
RSL finished at 2-2-0 in the tourney, and claimed third place with Saturday's victory.
Both teams used starting lineups consisting primarily of their usual first-teamers. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando was in net for RSL, fresh off his return from U.S. National Team duty in Italy.
Wingert scored in the game's 28th minute. After taking a pass from Ned Grabavoy just outside the box, he cut from left to center, then fired a right-footed shot to the far side of the net, beating New York keeper Jeremy Vuolo.
Real Salt Lake will now shift its attention to its regular-season opener in Major League Soccer, which comes March 10 at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles against the defending champion Galaxy.
The Galaxy knocked RSL out of the MLS Cup playoffs in 2011.
The team will have a somewhat different look this coming season. Though it retained most of its core players, much of the supporting cast will be different. Most notably, one of the franchise's original players, Andy Williams, decided to retire.
The team's home opener at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy comes March 17 at 8 p.m. against the Red Bulls.