Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SANDY — Real Salt Lake tried to give it a go with youth again in its CONCACAF Champions League home opener against Santa Tecla FC.
When that didn't work, the veterans were up to the task.
Javier Morales had two assists off the bench, and newcomer Juan Martinez buried the game-winning goal in the 78th minute to lead RSL to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Salvadorian side making its first-ever appearance in the regional tournament and effectively booking its spot in next winter's quarterfinals.
Both RSL goals came within 12 minutes of the home side's first substitution, midfield ace Javier Morales and team captain Kyle Beckerman.
If you believe Beckerman, the duo didn't even think they would make an appearance.
"Really, we didn't think we were coming on. It all happened really quickly," said Beckerman, who had 40 touches and two shots in just 24 minutes. "I thought we might do some calisthenics and then call it a night. Then the next thing you know, we are going on.
"We know what to do. We knew we had to bring an impact to the game, and we needed to get a win. That was the most important thing.'
RSL can guarantee its spot with a tie in the Group G finale Oct. 20 against Municipal at Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL played the Guatemalan club to a 1-0 win on Aug. 8 in Guatemala City.
Santa Tecla only needed one shot on target to make RSL pay, though. Ivan Herrera put his second shot of the second half underneath RSL goalkeeper Jeff Attinella, finishing a counter-attack past Elias Vasquez and the backup keeper to put the El Salvador side up 1-0 in the 61st minute.
William Maldonado fed Herrera with a long ball over the defense, and Herrera outpaced both RSL center backs and fed the ball through Attinella's legs inside the near post before celebrating Santa Tecla's first goal of the competition in a dogpile at the corner flag.
But the starting XI of mostly substitutes and young players didn't panic.
"I had full confidence in the group that started, to get a result. At the end of the day, I was really pleased with the way they played," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said. "They created opportunities, and the goalkeeper made a few fantastic saves. We got caught napping on one goal."
Cassar brought the veterans back into the lineup just five minutes after the opening goal, replacing Pecka and Luke Mulholland with Morales and Beckerman in the 65th minute.
Within 10 minutes, the substitutions worked. Morales lofted a ball into the box and Garcia flew up to meet it with his head and bang it past Santa Tecla goalkeeper Juan Trinidad for the 1-1 equalizer.
This time, the flag stayed down.
Martinez, who is nicknamed "El Burrito," opened his Champions League scoring account with the go-ahead goal, stepping in front of a defender and burying his chip-shot past Trinidad in the 78th minute.
"It's beautiful. I think it raises the confidence of the whole group," Cassar said of Martinez's impact. "There's a lot of playing and move (off him), because they know they will get the ball back. They know the quality is there. When you have that confidence, your runs are better, your reactions are better, and there were a couple of times Abdoulie (Mansally, left back) was surprised with a few of (Martinez's) plays.
"The more they are around, the better they play. It's exciting."
RSL, which moved to 2-0-1 in group play, out-shot Santa Tecla, 13-7, including a seven shots on frame to the Salvadorian club's single marker. Santa Tecla finished its CONCACAF campaign winless at 0-2-2.
RSL's Luis Gil nearly put the hosts on top in the 25th minute, but his effort from the top of the box veered a few inches over the corner of the crossbar and hit the back of the net after it rebound off the Scotiabank board behind the Santa Tecla goal.
Trinidad was tended to with an injury in the 35th minute, but he came back five minutes later to help defend an RSL triple-shot. The Salvadorian goalkeeper bested Joao Plata from inside the box, then watched the rebound hit the crossbar, and a second shot sail over the goalmouth seconds later.
"I thought the guys were playing really well," Beckerman said. "They created a lot of chances, and there was a lot of good stuff. Coming out of halftime, we had a clear breakaway that was called offside, and could've changed the game.
"I think we just brought some energy, and as a sub that's what you have to do."
Trinidad made three saves to preserve the first-half shutout, a scoreless draw through 45 minutes that extended both teams' scoreless outings to 135 minutes.
RSL had not given up a goal in Champions League since July 31, 2012, a 1-0 loss to Costa Rica's Herediano. The Salt Lake side also beat Guatemala's Municipal 1-0 on Aug. 8 in its first foray into the regional tournament in more than two years.
Morales pulled up with mild discomfort in his hip flexor near the end of the match, Cassar said. But the head coach is confident his standout midfielder will be ready to go Sunday in a critical league match at San Jose.
"We have other options as well," said Cassar, who listed Martinez, Mulholland, Gil or Luis Silva to potentially fill into the central attacking midfield role. "I think we'll be fine. But hopefully Javi is going to be OK."
Beckerman isn't worried about his midfield partner's knock, either.
"You really can't replace him. He's special," the team captain said. "It would be extremely tough, but it will take a little extra from everyone to pitch in if he can't. We'll look at him tomorrow, and hopefully he is good to go.
"He's a strong guy, and hopefully he comes back good. He should be alright."
