Friday night's match against D.C. United was Real Salt Lake's sixth in the last two weeks, two of which were 120-minute all-out contests in U.S. Open Cup competition. RSL came out sharp. It attacked D.C. with a very successful high press.
But like in their heartbreaking loss against the Seattle Sounders in U.S. Open Cup play on Tuesday, Real controlled possession (57 percent) but struggled to score goals.
Burrito Martinez scored what will likely be a goal-of-the-week candidate in the 57th minute to put RSL up 1-0.
But by the final 15 minutes, it was clear the team was spent, in what was a reversal of the usual at Rio Tinto — D.C. was putting on the late pressure as RSL took it like a punch-drunk boxer.
RSL couldn't hold on and in the 93rd minute gave up a game-tying header to D.C.'s Jared Jeffrey.
Here are the player grades.
Nick Rimando (GK), 7, looked much of the night as though he wouldn't have much to do. He did save a blistering shot from Alvaro Saborio in the first half, and had a couple more come his way in the second half, but nothing he couldn't handle — that is until D.C.'s Fabian Espindola sent in a perfect corner kick in stoppage time that Jared Jeffrey pounded past Rimando with authority.
Demar Phillips (DEF), 8, did very well to help with RSL's high press in the midfield, often driving all the way into the D.C. side of the field to attack the ball. Even so, he was rarely out of position and used his speed and stamina to get back and deny D.C. opportunities to get in behind the RSL defense.
Justen Glad (DEF), 7, has shown that he may well be one of the speediest center backs in MLS this season, and Saturday it was an important tool in his box as he and the rest of the defense did well to keep D.C. to only two shots on target. Sadly he and the rest of the team had little left in the tank to keep D.C. off the score sheet.
Aaron Maund (DEF), 8, found himself fighting off former Claret and Cobalt striker Alvaro Saborio all night. Saborio is known for his work in the air as well as his holding ability — if not for scoring goals. But Maund was focused and determined. He was a solid match for Saborio in the air and did extremely well — along with the rest of the defensive line — at keeping Saborio at bay in the box.
Tony Beltran (DEF), 8, played one of his best defensive games of the season Saturday night. He was not only everywhere he needed to be, he showed tremendous athleticism to stop or maintain posession of several important balls throughout the night.
Luke Mulholland (MID), 8, was excellent from box to box Saturday night. Defensively, he was a menace, and offensively he played a critical role in both building up RSL's attacks and even got a well-placed shot on goal in the 39th minute that D.C. keeper Bill Hamid saved with his fingernails.
Javier Morales (MID), 8, benefitted greatly from having Kyle Beckerman back in the lineup. It's sometimes hard to recognize their interplay, but it is what keeps things flowing when Real Salt Lake is firing on all pistons. Morales showed excellent stamina given the hard schedule RSL has had to endure recently. His passing was spot on and his set pieces well-timed and placed throughout the night. Perhaps that's why the veteran playmaker showed as much frustration when D.C. scored as he's shown in perhaps his entire career at RSL.
Kyle Beckerman (MID), 8, and his excellent passing was sorely missed while he was away with the national team. Saturday, he put on a passing clinic and it was a big reason RSL owned the possession game and had 20 shots on the night. His leadership was also missed, even if it did earn him a yellow card in the 42nd minute for calling referees' calls into question one too many times.
Juan Manuel Martinez (FWD), 9, was masterful Saturday night. His passing was spot on, his positioning all night was excellent and his movement off the ball clinical. Defensively, Burrito's pressure in the D.C. third paid perhaps the biggest dividends of any on the high press. But it was his 57th-minute goal that not only broke RSL's scoring drought, but proved his excellent quality. It will surely be a goal-of-the-week contender.
Yura Movsisyan (FWD), 6, it must be said, contributes to RSL's attack in so many ways. He occupies defenders, defends well, has one of the best work rates on the team and puts himself in dangerous scoring spots. But if his finishing quality were better he might be leading Major League Soccer in goals this season. The veteran striker had three excellent opportunities to put the ball in the back of the net within the first 16 minutes of the game and failed to convert any. His results were the same on at least four other excellent opportunities. He did earn an assist on Burrito's 57th minute goal. But it was through his poor judgment in the 92nd minute to get off a poor shot rather than maintain possession, only to give the ball back to D.C. which promptly earned a corner kick and subsequent tying goal off a Fabian Espindola corner that found Jared Jeffrey the only one with any legs to jump up and get it.
Joao Plata (FWD), 7, played a typically solid game for the young Ecuadorean. He wasn't necessarily as flashy as he can be, but his runs were dynamic and his passing quite good, especially in the final third. He was subbed off in the 81st minute for the fresher legs of Olmes Garcia.
Olmes Garcia (SUB, 81', FWD), 7, did exactly what was asked of him in his substitution, provide fresh legs, and he nearly scored after a nifty flick 30 yards out, only to get stifled by Hamid.
Chris Wingert (SUB, 89', DEF) , No grade. Did not play long enough to earn one.
Chris Higbee is a regular contributor to DeseretNews.com.