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SANDY — Nick Rimando made his return to Rio Tinto Stadium after spending a week with the U.S. Men’s National Team in Amsterdam with a 0-0 draw against the Colorado Rapids in the first leg of the Rocky Mountain Cup Sunday afternoon.
The teams played to a scoreless draw in the opening half, despite 15 total shots and a little chippiness in the form of 17 fouls and two yellow cards.
Alvaro Saborio had a flying header soar just over the crossbar in the 38th minute for RSL (4-5-6, 18 points), arguably the home team’s best chance of the first half.
Javier Morales had a chance at the death, but his free kick from just outside the box in the final minute of stoppage time sailed over the bar, and the Rapids (2-4-8, 14 points) walked out of Sandy with a draw.
Here are a few thoughts and happenings from the match.
Real Salt Lake’s regular starting goalkeeper was in the first XI for the home team, despite missing the entire week of training while away with the USA for the first of two friendlies against the Netherlands and Germany.
Rimando, who backed up Brad Guzan during the United States' historic 4-3 win over Holland Friday, flew from Amsterdam to Salt Lake City and arrived Saturday afternoon — just in time to put on his familiar all-black goalkeeping kit and play 90 minutes in front of his home crowd of 18,895 in the first leg of RSL’s original MLS rivalry.
The goalkeeper was one of two RSL teammates with the national team, joining midfielder Kyle Beckerman.
“He was supposed to be here the whole time,” RSL coach Jeff Cassar said of Rimando. “We had been in communication with U.S. Soccer, and we were trying to get both of them back. We knew Nick was coming back the whole time, and Kyle was still up in the air.”
The reliable backstop made two saves to help Salt Lake earn the draw. Clint Irwin had one save to earn the clean sheet for Colorado.
“When I landed, I gave (Cassar) a head’s up,” Rimando said. “My body felt well; I wanted to play and we made the decision from there. I was glad I was able to come back in contribute.”
Rimando is one of the top penalty-kick stoppers in Major League Soccer, so he would’ve been ready when called upon in the 88th minute after defender Aaron Maund was whistled for a foul on Colorado’s Luis Solignac in the box.
But Rimando guessed the wrong way, and the Rapids’ Dillon Powers sent his right-footed penalty kick to the right — and far enough that it swerved past the post.
Rimando, who earned the MLS-record 121st shutout of his career, has faced five penalty kicks this season and only conceded twice.
“It’s definitely been different from any other year in facing PKs,” Rimando said. “But it is what it is, and the calls are clear. You can’t argue it.”
In only his second start of the year, and his first at home, the Ecuadorian forward went the full 90 minutes after working his way back from a fifth metatarsal injury suffered on RSL’s first day of training ahead of the 2015 season.
Plata nearly bagged a goal, too, but his right-footed shot from inside the box in the 84th minute swerved just outside the near post.
The game was the most minutes for Plata in a single match since going the full 90 on Oct. 5, 2014, at the now-defunct Chivas USA. He started alongside fellow strikers Alvaro Saborio and Sebastian Jaime for the first time this season.
“I thought they did a good job,” Cassar said of the formidable threesome. “But you can still see they aren’t quite 90 minutes fit, and they had to go 90 minutes.
“That’s tough, especially when we have to make a substitution in the back line a minute into the game. That throws off your plans. That was frustrating because I think we could’ve used some fresh legs in the attack. But I thought the guys put forth a great effort.”
Jamison Olave was subbed off in the sixth minute of the game with a right quad strain, and Aaron Maund entered the match as the first substitute within minutes of the opening whistle.
The teams ended up threatening plenty but finishing was an issue. Colorado narrowly outshot RSL 16-15, but the teams only put one shot on goal apiece.
