Real Salt Lake got an 87th minute goal from Will Johnson to beat nine-man Chivas USA 1-0 on Saturday to extend their MLS home unbeaten streak to 31 matches. But that victory will likely ring hallow as RSL lost Javier Morales to a potentially season-ending broken ankle that he suffered in the first half on a Marcos Mondaini tackle from behind.
Real Salt Lake Vs. Chivas USA: Will Johnson’s Goal Gives RSL 1-0 Victory
After the injury, the severity of which seemed pretty apparent as Morales writhed on the field in agony, the RSL attack was understandably out of sorts. Not only had the players lost a teammate, but from a more practical standpoint, they also lost their best playmaker.
The Goats seemed perfectly willing to bunker, especially after Mondaini was the second player to be sent off. Earlier in the match, Andrew Boyens was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the first 25 minutes. Taken together, it's hard not to think that Chivas USA came in with an attitude of simply trying to "out physical" the obviously more talented RSL side.
The truth is, that strategy seemed to be working up until the 87th minute. That's when Warner sent in a probing ball from outside the penalty area. It deflected off Nat Borchers and Johnson caught up to it just before Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy did, poking it into the back of the net.
The win was RSL's first since April 13 when they beat the Colorado Rapids. RSL had only played one MLS match in the meantime as they were given a week off to prepare for CONCACAF Champions League.
See More:
