Real Salt Lake Vs. Toronto FC, 2012 MLS: RSL Nabs Late Winner Against Plucky TFC

Toronto FC was not supposed to have a chance against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium. They had zero points on the season and RSL is, well, RSL. Even so, the Reds played very well and were even better than RSL at times, but soccer isn't always fair. A last second goal got Salt Lake a winner and sent Toronto home in disbelief with a 3-2 loss.

Salt Lake were first on the board when a free kick found Jamison Olave all the way at the back post. He nodded the ball back across the face of goal, where Kyle Beckerman was a foot off the goal line to head it home for the goal that would give them a lead at halftime.

Eric Avila had the play of the game, and possibly the goal of the week just after the halftime break. He picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and looked down Olave, one of the best defenders in MLS. Apparently, nobody told Avila how good Olave is because he made the defender look silly, dancing around him while Olave fell to the ground before cooly slotting the ball in the side netting for a gorgeous equalizer.

Avila almost added a second, but he was denied by the post and then, in true TFC style, they put the ball in their own net. Richard Eckersley tried a diving header to clear a tantalizing cross by Fabian Espindola, only he put it in his own net and the home side were back in front.

Undeterred, Toronto came right back and poured on the pressure and Doneil Henry made it pay off in the 77th minute with an equalizer. The Reds kept coming at RSL, looking nothing like a team in search of their first point and they were unfortunate not to get another chance or two.

They were even more unfortunate in injury time when Salt Lake got the winner. Johnny Steele benefited from some good play by Beckerman and Javier Morales to nab a late winner that was a punch in the gut for TFC.