Sebastian Jaime opens MLS scoring account in RSL's 2-1 win over Kansas City


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SANDY — Real Salt Lake stamped a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City in another chapter of the budding rivalry behind opening goals from Sebastian Jaime and Olmes Garcia.

Garcia bagged the game-winner off the bench, flicking a shot on frame that Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia had stopped but for a deflection over his head and into his own net in the third minute of stoppage time to put the home side up 2-1. Garcia’s goal was his first in 2015.

Jaime gave RSL the early lead, burying Javier Morales’ 30-yard free kick off the crossbar and past former RSL goalkeeper Melia for the opening goal. The RSL designated player scored his first career MLS goal a year after coming over from Chile’s Union Espanola.

Morales finished the evening with two assists, giving him three goals and five assists on the season — or a touch on two-thirds of RSL’s goals this season.

KC’s Dom Dwyer tied the game in the 30th minute, finishing off Benny Feilhaber’s well-played through-ball to beat RSL defender Aaron Maund and goalkeeper Nick Rimando with a ball just inside the left post. The assist was Feilhaber’s eighth assist of the year, the most in Major League Soccer.

Rimando made four saves on 11 shots faced to pick up the win, while Melia had four saves on 15 shots faced.

Here are three quick thoughts on RSL’s first win in four games:

Welcome to MLS, Jaime ---------------------

Jaime’s goal was his first scoring strike in MLS play, coming 626 minutes into his debut with Real Salt Lake. The native of La Plata, Argentina, signed with MLS from Union Espanola, where he tallied 39 goals for the Chilean club.

Jaime’s goal finished off Javier Morales’ free kick into the box, and the Argentine connection paid off to give the Salt Lake side its first lead over Sporting Kansas City in 2015.

“It’s nice that both those players scored goals,” RSL coach Jeff Cassar said of both goals. “They’re working incredibly hard, and they got rewarded now. We are not going to achieve anything with just personal accomplishments; it’s got to be all about the team.”

Olmes gets one

Garcia scored his first goal of 2015, and his first goal since Aug. 22, 2014, at FC Dallas. The 22-year-old Colombian forward needed the goal, and his teammates rallied around his game-winner as much as they did Jaime’s inaugural marker.

“We need Olmes scoring, and we’ve waited a long time,” Morales said. “I think today he prepared well for when he came in. He had a big chance, and almost scored (more). It was big for him.”

That’s where RSL’s attack has been

Besides Jaime’s goal, the local side also forced itself into its attacking third constantly in an up-and-down, fun first half that produced 12 corner kicks — the third most in MLS history. RSL outshot Kansas City 8-5 in the first half, and both teams combined for 26 shots on the warm Sunday night at Rio Tinto Stadium.

For a team that scored four goals in its previous five league appearances, the return to an offensive rhythm was a welcome relief for the 19,153 fans in attendance.

It wasn't just the number of chances that RSL had, especially in the first half, but the quality of offensive threats by Morales, Jaime and center forward Devon Sandoval, who had a team-high three shots on the evening.

“I thought the first half was arguably some of our best soccer all year,” Cassar said. “We should’ve been rewarded more than that. But we talked at halftime about pushing and believing. At the end of the day, you make your own luck sometimes.”

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Sean Walker

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