RSL's Silva, Minnesota's Quintero score in 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto

(Scott G Winterton, KSL)


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SANDY — If Marcelo Silva taught Minnesota United anything Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium, it’s not to leave Real Salt Lake’s big defensive presence unmarked on a set piece.

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Uruguayan made the Loons pay for that mistake.

Silva scored his second goal of the season on a second-half equalizer, and Real Salt Lake earned a home draw with the visiting Loons, 1-1, in front of an announced crowd of 16,992 fans Saturday night.

Darwin Quintero scored for Minnesota United (10-7-4, 34 points), which ran its unbeaten streak to five straight matches.

"We all know in the locker room that we let points slip tonight," said RSL defender Brooks Lennon. "We could've taken a win ... but it's behind us now."

Real Salt Lake (9-9-3, 30 points) is unbeaten at home in six straight matches, though the draw snapped a five-match home winning streak dating back to May 4.

One point is better than no points, but RSL took responsibility for the draw that felt more like a loss at times.

And head coach Mike Petke took full responsibility for what he dubbed a "lackluster" effort stemming from a heavy week of training in 100-degree weather at the team's training facility in Herriman.

Real Salt Lake defender Justen Glad (15) battles Minnesota United defender Romain Metanire (19) for the ball as Real Salt Lake and Minnesota play in an MLS soccer match at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Saturday, July 20, 2019. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw. (Photo: Scott G Winterton, KSL)
Real Salt Lake defender Justen Glad (15) battles Minnesota United defender Romain Metanire (19) for the ball as Real Salt Lake and Minnesota play in an MLS soccer match at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy on Saturday, July 20, 2019. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw. (Photo: Scott G Winterton, KSL)

"It starts with me, and I feel like I pushed them a little too hard this week," Petke said. "Looking at this game tonight, it was clear that I did. I tried to capitalize off last week’s performance.

"It was uninspiring, and I know it’s not that my players don’t care."

After a scoreless first half, Quintero gave the Loons a 1-0 advantage in the first 20 minutes after the break, converting a set-piece opportunity into a goal. The Colombian forward took advantage of a defensive lapse near the far post and finished off Mason Toye’s header from Jan Gregus’ corner kick to give Minnesota a 1-0 advantage.

It was just the second shot on target of the match — both of them coming after the break — for Minnesota, which started the night four points ahead of RSL in the Western Conference.

But Silva equalized at the height of the 70th minute for Real Salt Lake. The 6-foot-2 center back finished Jefferson Savarino’s cross with a half-volley, a ball that was set up by Albert Rusnak’s corner kick, to finish his second goal of the season past Minnesota goalkeeper Vito Mannone to tie the match at 1-1.

It was among the final touches of the night for Rusnak, who was subbed off for the oft-used Joao Plata in the 77th minute.

Lennon said he "felt" the goal coming at the moment, with all the pressure and the crosses and the set pieces the home side was earning in Minnesota's final third.

Then, after Rusnak's over-stretched corner kick found Savarino on the far side of the field, the Venezuelan international picked up his head, found a wide-open Silva breaking free of the Loons' zonal marking, and sent in a perfectly weighted ball that the Colombian merely had to redirect into the back of the net with a half-volley.

"I think that's one of Savarino’s gifts, as well," Silva said. "He saw me this time, that I was free; and when he lifted up his head, he passed me the ball in the area. It was a good decision, I wasn’t marked, and we were able to score."

Silva has run up the play regularly, both with Savarino and others. But he admits he isn't always the one who finds the ball at his feet to score.

"We (practice) it a lot, but it’s always someone else," he said with a chuckle. "I'm usually in the back."

The goal was a shot in the arm for RSL, which saw new life breathed into the attacking third for the final 20 minutes. The home side pushed frantically toward the end line for the remainder of the match, securing corner kick after corner kick in an attempt to duplicate Silva’s earlier magic.

But the final touch never came, and RSL was forced to settle for a draw.

"It was a tough result for us. We needed the three points at home, but they sat back well and countered us," RSL's Brooks Lennon said. "That was their game plan from minute one.

"We were too sloppy on the ball tonight. Not enough movement from everyone. It’s frustrating to only take one point, but better one point than zero."

Next up

Real Salt Lake steps aside of MLS play Wednesday for a Pioneer Day match with Tigres UANL from Mexico. The match, which will kick at 8 p.m. MDT on ESPN, is part of the inaugural Leagues Cup between MLS and Liga MX.

RSL's next league match comes Saturday, July 27 at FC Dallas.

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