Kaka, Jaime goals lead RSL to 'frustrating' home draw with Orlando


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SANDY — It only took former FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka four and a half minutes into his first-ever trip to Utah to get used to scoring at altitude.

The Brazilian legend put Major League Soccer expansion side Orlando City SC up 1-0 with a goal off the counterattack in the fifth minute of Saturday’s match against Real Salt Lake, and the visitors held on for a 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium.

RSL forward Sebastian Jaime kept up his inimitable run of form with his third goal in MLS play this year. The Argentine striker went up to head home Tony Beltran’s teed-up shot into the box to equalize for RSL in the 28th minute, knocking home his fourth goal across five games in all competitions.

Kaka received a red card just before halftime for a serious foul on Javier Morales, and his subsequent ejection forced Orlando (6-6-6, 24 points) down to 10 men for the remainder of the match.

RSL (5-6-8, 23 points) poured on the pressure in the final 10 minutes, but couldn’t do enough to get past goalkeeper Tally Hall and the Orlando defense as it settled for another disappointing tie at home.

"We have to get three points at home. But our attitude was right, and the way we approached the game was right," RSL head coach Jeff Cassar said optimistically after the match. "We just didn't have that final 10 yards. I can't fault the guys' effort; it was tremendous."

Here are three quick thoughts from the draw in front of a Rio Tinto Stadium-record 20,965 fans.

Jaime doing Jaime things ------------------------

The second-year RSL forward scored his third goal in MLS play to keep his fiery streak alive. Jaime’s goal was also his fourth across five matches in all competitions for RSL, the first time a player has accomplished the feat in franchise history.

The Argentine goal-scorer seems to be adjusting well to his recent move to center forward, spurred on by the departure of Alvaro Saborio to the CONCACAF Gold Cup with Costa Rica. He’s now tied for the team lead in league goals with three, and he did it on only 11 shots — compared to 30 for Saborio and 17 for Morales.

"Credit to Seba; this guy is incredible," Beltran said. "I'm so happy that he's doing well on the scoresheet. It's a pleasure playing with him. He works endlessly.

"He's always been positive around the group and working hard. I'm very happy to see him score."

Stoica is as Stoica does

RSL fans have a love-hate relationship with referee Sorin Stoica, who was the man in the middle for the second time this year at Rio Tinto Stadium. On Saturday night, the relationship of the oft-whistling ref came in the home team’s favor.

Stoica whistled Kaka for a foul on a hard challenge against Javier Morales in the 45th minute, replacing the yellow card he originally pulled out of his pocket with a red one for violent conduct. Kaka’s accompanied trip to the locker room brought an eruption of applause from the home fans, and Orlando was forced down to 10 men for the entire second half.

"Red cards are kind of funny," RSL goalkeeper Jeff Attinella said. "Sometimes they are good, but sometimes they let the other team sit back and pack it in. We had to shoot a lot from distance. They did a great job of executing, and Tally made some great saves."

Kaka’s booking was only his second foul of the match, but evidence suggests the Brazilian brought down Morales with a hard shoulder bump from beyond, then stepped on the Argentine playmaker’s leg as he proceeded to defend the free-kick situation. The offense was the first red card suffered by a visiting team at Rio Tinto Stadium in 2015, but the third such booking by any player at RSL’s home.

Schuler starts on the bench

RSL defender Chris Schuler made his first appearance on the 18-man game day roster since undergoing knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus April 21.

The 23-year-old center back played 110 minutes with RSL’s USL affiliate Real Monarchs in games at Arizona United SC and against Sacramento Republic FC. Schuler went 65 minutes in Scottsdale, Arizona, and 45 minutes at home in a pair of games on a natural-grass surface in a pair of moves that Cassar said was to get him back to full fitness after the injury.

The RSL center back did not enter the game, as Aaron Maund and Elias Vasquez both went the full 90 minutes. But Schuler's availability comes at a good time, with Vasquez set to join the Guatemala national team for the Gold Cup starting next week.

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