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SANDY — Former RSL man Nat Borchers headed home a corner kick at the top of the fifth minute of stoppage time to help his new club, Portland Timbers FC, escape with a 1-0 win at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday night.
Borchers' goal finished off a corner kick by Diego Valeri, and the former RSL man dropped to his knees with barely a celebration as his new teammates mobbed him after the final kick of the match.
Salt Lake (7-10-8) controlled nearly 70 percent of possession in the first half, out-shooting the visiting Timbers 10-3 at the break. But the home side couldn't convert on any of its three shots on goal to take an advantage in the opening 45 minutes, and fell to the Timbers (11-8-6).
Here are four quick thoughts about Saturday night's match.
The Borchers did it
The former RSL man and fan favorite at Rio Tinto Stadium knocked in the game-winner on the final play of the match, but Borchers barely celebrated a game-winner against his former club even as his Timbers teammates swarmed him.
The bearded wonder instead dropped to his knees near the edge of the box, staring up into a stadium he's played in so many times, and merely accepted his fate — and the Timbers' clutch three points on the road.
But the game didn't come down to Borchers' shot, RSL head coach Jeff Cassar said.
"Obviously, we all love Nat and want good things to happen for him," Cassar said. "What hurts is losing that game and not getting three points."
A wasteful 90 minutes
RSL put together one of the squad's more dominating efforts of the season in the first half of Saturday night's match, dictating the tempo and squaring up 10 shots that included three near-makes from Olmes Garcia (1) and Luke Mulholland (2).
The home side continued to control possession, finishing with 64 percent of the ball on the night while out-shooting the Timbers 15-10.
But the Salt Lake side couldn't turn any efforts into goals, and the Timbers gradually grew in confidence through the first hour of the match. Lucas Melano had a shot blocked at the end of first-half regulation, and former RSL defender Nat Borchers' shot went wide of the goal in first-half stoppage time.
"I think we did everything to win the game," midfielder Javier Morales said. "We looked to create a lot of chances, but in soccer when you don't finish your chances, it's tough. That can happen and the other team can score a goal (like that) and win the game."
Nick Rimando is spectacular
The Timbers didn't threaten Rimando much in the opening half, but the veteran U.S. international goalkeeper saved RSL several times after the break, even if he couldn't claim another clean sheet.
Rimando posted arguably his best save of the night with 20 minutes remaining, reaching out with cat-like reflexes to parry away Liam Ridgewell's shot on a counter attack that could have spelt dread for RSL at home against a Western Conference rival next to its spot in the table.
After leaving the club for a month with the U.S. men's national team for CONCACAF Gold Cup duty, Rimando is back — and doing just enough to remind MLS why he is still one of the best goalkeepers, statistically, in league history.
The MLS all-time leader in shutouts got a little help from his team as well. Sebastian Saucedo headed a shot off the line in the 85th minute, but Rimando's presence in goal was a reminder of how good he can be with three saves and 10 shots faced.
"Rimando was outstanding, but hopefully next week against Seattle he's outstanding as well, and we can score two or three goals and try to build from that game," midfielder Luke Mulholland said.
Olave returns
The Colombian defender on his second stint with Real Salt Lake made his first start since June 7 in the loss, and he went 86 minutes before coming off for fellow center back Elias Vasquez. Olave, who was recovering from an injured hamstring, had 60 touches and 42 passes at a 95.2 percent clip for RSL. The veteran central presence also won two fouls for the Salt Lake side.
"We needed him," Cassar said of Olave. "That was plain and simple; we needed him, and we need a presence back there. I thought he did a fantastic job for his first game back. He broke up some plays, had some nice passes, and I was really pleased with him."
