Real Salt Lake can’t hold off Montreal Impact in 1-1 draw

Sandy • Disappointing.

That’s the description used by Real Salt Lake players and coaches Saturday night, after RSL raced to a lead in the 26th minute, surrendered that lead in the 55th minute, and had to settle for a 1-1 tie with a Montreal team they largely dominated at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Sure, RSL came away with a point before 18,901 festive fans. And, yes, a point is better than nothing, so it’s difficult to say the night was a total loss. But the feeling was strong that Real Salt Lake left two points on the field against the Impact. RSL created chance after chance, good opportunity after good opportunity. And yet, the play of Montreal keeper Evan Bush — who made several standout saves — enabled the Impact to salvage a game they probably should’ve lost.

“It’s a little frustrating,” RSL coach Mike Petke said. “Tonight, we had numerous opportunities to put them away, but we just couldn’t find that one. But a point is a point. It might feel like two dropped ones. But a point is a point, so we have to take away that positive.”

For RSL, Saturday night’s frustration is magnified by the road ahead. Specifically, the road, where Real Salt Lake hasn’t played well this season. The gantlet begins Wednesday night in Los Angeles against LAFC, one of the better teams in the Western Conference. It continues against the Houston Dynamo and wraps in two weeks against Colorado.

Houston and Colorado aren’t currently in the Western Conference playoff p

icture. But RSL has little margin for error in their quest to make the postseason. Real Salt Lake currently sits in the sixth spot in the West, five points ahead of Vancouver.

And, that’s why Saturday night was frustrating. It was a chance for RSL to secure three points with a significant road trip on the horizon. But, it couldn’t take advantage.

“It was tough,” RSL veteran Kyle Beckerman said. “We created a lot of chances. But credit to their keeper. He made some unbelievable saves. We had chances, but we just couldn’t get that second one to get the win. It’s frustrating, because we had a big opportunity.”

Joao Plata put RSL on top in that 26th minute, using his blazing speed in the open field to gain an advantage against Montreal defenders. He was fouled in the box, creating a penalty kick chance, which he capitalized on, putting Real Salt up 1-0.

That score held up through the 55th minute, when Montreal’s Jukka Raitala scored, but RSL should’ve had a 2-0 cushion. Beckerman, off an RSL corner, had an open net to work with, but his header went just wide to the right.

But RSL played well on Saturday night. They controlled pace and possession for much of the first half. They consistently created shots on goal, and their defense allowed keeper Nick Rimando a comfortable evening, for the most part.

“Well, we’re definitely disappointed,” Beckerman said. “But, we’re going to look at the positives and look at the negatives as well. It’s disappointing not to take all three. But we played well for a lot of the match.”