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TUCSON, Ariz. — A dramatic 3-2 come-from-behind win against the New England Revolution Wednesday gave Real Salt Lake a chance to win the preseason FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup.
RSL, however, failed to take advantage of the opportunity. Salt Lake dropped its final match in the tournament 1-0 to the Seattle Sounders Saturday night, sending the cup home to the Northwest instead of Utah.
The match remained scoreless at the end of the first half, but the Sounders hit the back of the net just after the second half started. In the 50th minute, RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando, who was back in the fan-favorite black uniform, wasn’t able to bloc Sammy Ochoa’s close shot.
SEA – Alex Caskey (Sammy Ochoa) – 50' Misconduct Summary
SEA – Ashani Fairclough (Foul) – 66'Real Salt Lake (4-1-2-1-2)
Nick Rimando; Kenny Mansally, Chris Schuler, Kwame Watson-Siriboe, Tony Beltran; Kyle Beckerman (c); Ned Grabavoy, Khari Stephenson (David Viana, 68'); Sebastian Velasquez (John Stertzer, 46'); Robbie Findley (Joao Plata, 46'), Alvaro Saborio Seattle Sounders FC (4-4-2)
Marcus Hahnemann; Dylan Remick, Eriq Zavaleta, Ashani Fairclough**, Marc Burch; Alex Caskey (Jennings Rex*, 86'), Andy Rose, Servando Carrasco, Lamar Neagle (Kevin Durr, 90+); Sammy Ochoa (Phillip Lund**, 66'), David Estrada (Travis Bowen**, 66')
Saturday’s matchup with Seattle was the second meeting between the two clubs this preseason — both resulting in losses for the Salt Lake club. RSL finished the Desert Diamond Cup with a 1-2-1 record and a 2-2-1 record overall in its preseason matches.
The RSL Starting 11 for the match featured nine players off the 2012 roster and two who joined the club this year: forward Robbie Findley, who is with the Salt Lake club for the second time, and midfielder Khari Stephenson, who was signed by the club Friday.
RSL head coach Jason Kreis used two pre-planned subs at halftime: midfielder John Stertzer, a SuperDraft pick, and forward Joao Plata.
The Salt Lake club will return to Utah on Sunday to begin its final week of preparations before the 2013 Major League Soccer regular season, which begins the following Sunday, March 3, for the club.
The Claret and Cobalt will start off the season on the road for two matches, first facing the San Jose Earthquakes March 3 and then D.C. United March 9. RSL will open its home schedule March 16 at Rio Tinto Stadium by hosting the Colorado Rapids in the first leg of the Subaru Rocky Mountain Cup.
The Salt Lake club’s first month of the 2013 MLS regular season will see it on the road a third time, facing off in Texas against FC Dallas, a place the club has yet to notch a win. RSL will finish off the month of March at home, hosting Seattle March 30.
Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
