Sandy • Once referee Sorin Stoica reached for his back pocket and lifted the red card into the warm Fourth of July night, Brazilian megastar Kaká looked down at the pitch, despondent, as Rio Tinto Stadium roared.
One of the globe's most recognizable soccer names trudged off the field toward the locker room, changing the course of what was a back-and-forth evening between Real Salt Lake and Orlando City.
RSL, up a man the final 45 minutes, couldn't take advantage.
Kaká's stomp on the left leg of RSL midfielder Javier Morales in the 45th minute — inadvertent or not — put RSL in the driver's seat against 10-man Orlando, but in front of a record 20,956 fans on the club's 11th annual Independence Day match, RSL (5-6-8) couldn't close the deal in the 1-1 draw.
"Inexcusable at home," right back Tony Beltran said. "This was a result we needed, and the situation was there for us to take it, which we did not."
A late strike from Park City's Sebastian Saucedo in the 85th minute seemed destined to cap the evening for RSL, but his 30-yard shot bounced off the hand of Orlando goalkeeper Tally Hall before bouncing off the post and back into play. RSL had 23 shots — seven on frame — but a late barrage couldn't penetrate packed-in Orlando.
"We really needed three points there; we wanted to win that one," RSL goalkeeper Jeff Attinella said. "We're playing better soccer, and eventually it's going to start translating on the field instead of 1-1, getting that second [goal] in."
RSL fans can hope, Sebastian Jaime stays hot, though.
The 28-year-old Argentine powered a header into the net in the 28th minute off a swerving cross from right back Tony Beltran for a fourth goal in RSL's past four home matches across all competitions. With three goals in his past five starts at center forward, he moves into a tie for team lead in goals scored.
Kaká established Orlando City's first counterattack of the evening and punctuated it early by stunning the Rio Tinto crowd in the fifth minute. The Brazilian waited just inside the 18-yard box as forward Pedro Ribeiro and midfielder Erica Avila exchanged in a give-and-go. Once the ball was played back to Ribeiro outside the box, he placed a perfect pass to Kaká, who had position between RSL defenders Aaron Maund and Beltran.
A slight touch with his left foot took him a few yards closer to goal, where he curled a shot to the far post before Maund or Beltran could catch him to put the Lions up 1-0.
That came just 32 seconds after RSL had squandered three legitimate chances to take an early lead on the visitors. Maund's long ball fell to the feet of Joao Plata, whose shot deflected to Javier Morales. The RSL midfielder played a left-foot cross across the face of the goal to Olmes Garcia. The striker tried a heel flick, but it was blocked by the wall of Orlando City defenders.
The ball rolled back to Garcia, and his right-foot shot was going to sneak into the post, but Hall pushed it away.
Attinella was forced to match Hall within the 10-minute mark, barely tipping Orlando defender Seb Hines' header, which then hit the crossbar and went back into play before being cleared by Luis Gil. Attinella was once again called upon in the 63rd minute, after RSL's defense lost track of Orlando City defender Sean St. Ledger in the box, poking away a close-range header.
RSL has a full week off before a trek to face rival Colorado next Saturday in Commerce City, Colo.
"We have to get three points at home — We didn't," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said, "but our attitude was right; the way we approached the game was right."
ckamrani@sltrib.com
Twitter: @chriskamrani
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Orlando City FC goalkeeper Tally Hall (22) snags the ball out of the air during the first half of their match against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Jeff Attinella (24) tips the ball into the crossbar for a save during the first half of their match against Orlando City FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake midfielder Luis Gil (10) intercepts a pass during the first half of their match against Orlando City FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake forward Olmes Garcia (13) controls the ball during the first half of their match against Orlando City FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake forward Sebastian Jaime (23) leaps over a sliding Orlando City FC midfielder Cristian Higuita (7) during the first half of their match at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake forward Sebastian Jaime (23) celebrates his game-tying goal during the first half of their match against Orlando City FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Orlando City FC forward Kaka walks off the pitch after receiving a red card during the first half of their match against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake defender Tony Beltran (2) drives passed Orlando City FC defender Luke Boden (14), left, and midfielder Cristian Higuita (7) during the first half of their match against Orlando City FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake forward Sebastian Jaime (23) celebrates his game-tying goal during the first half of their match against Orlando City FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake midfielder Luis Gil (10) and Orlando City FC forward Kaka battle for possession during the first half of their match at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Orlando City FC players celebrate their first half goal during the first half of their match against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake midfielder Javier Morales (11) attempts to maneuver passed Orlando City FC midfielder Cristian Higuita (7) during the first half of their match against at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake forward Olmes Garcia (13) reacts after a failed attacking opportunity during the first half of their match against Orlando City FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake forward Joao Plata (8) controls a pass during the first half of their match against Orlando City FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake forward Olmes Garcia (13) reacts after a failed attacking opportunity during the first half of their match against Orlando City FC at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake midfielder Javier Morales (11) winds up for a shot as Orlando City FC defender Seb Hines (3) looks on during the first half of their match at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Orlando City FC midfielder Cristian Higuita (7) and Real Salt Lake forward Joao Plata (8) get tangled up near the box during the second half of their match at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The match ended on a 1-1 draw.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Orlando City FC midfielder Cristian Higuita (7) and Real Salt Lake forward Joao Plata (8) get tangled up near the box during the second half of their match at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The match ended on a 1-1 draw.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Captains Javier Morales (11) of Real Salt Lake and Kaka (10) of Orlando City FC shake hands before the beginning of their match at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
Michael Mangum | Special to the Tribune Real Salt Lake defender Demar Phillips (17) plays a ball into the box in front of Orlando City FC goalkeeper Tally Hall (22) during the first half of their match at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday, July 4, 2015. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
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