This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Flops have been a scourge of fair play in soccer for ages, but Portland Timbers forward Lucas Melano may have asserted himself in the "greatest flop of all-time" conversation against Real Salt Lake Saturday.

The Argentine took a miniscule push in the back from RSL defender Chris Wingert near the midfield circle and promptly became an Olympic diver, front flipping onto the pitch with gusto.

It worked, as the referee issued a foul, and Melano now has a backup career in acting when his playing days end.

bsmith@sltrib.com

Twitter: @BrennanJSmith