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SAN JOSE, Calif. — Real Salt Lake opened its 2013 Major League Soccer regular season with a 2-0 win on the road over the San Jose Earthquakes Sunday night off goals from RSL striker Alvaro Saborio.
The first 45 minutes went scoreless for both sides, but RSL forward Saborio hit the back of the net for the Salt Lake club in the 71st and 85th minutes, securing the shutout for Salt Lake. RSL newcomer and forward Joao Plata, who entered the match in the 65th minute, and RSL captain Kyle Beckerman assisted Saborio’s goals.
Beckerman and goalkeeper Nick Rimando each hit major MLS milestones along with the win. As Beckerman took the pitch, he marked his 300th MLS appearance and with the shutout win, Rimando marked his 100th career shutout.
The Salt Lake club didn’t stop there at hitting records with the win over San Jose — the match also marked the fourth opening-day win on the road for RSL, the longest active streak in the MLS. Aside from last season, against the Los Angeles Galaxy, three of its opening-day wins have been against the Earthquakes.
The RSL lineup looked quite different than it did just a handful of months ago as the Salt Lake club finished up its 2012 campaign. Fans saw the return of former RSL forward Robbie Findley, who notched 65 minutes for the Claret and Cobalt.
The RSL side of the pitch also saw the first ever MLS regular season appearance for forward Devon Sandoval. Former San Jose Earthquake and new RSL midfielder Khari Stephenson saw his first start and regular season appearance for the Salt Lake club, finishing the match with 84 minutes under his belt.
With an injury-ridden defensive pool, RSL head coach Jason Kreis featured a never-before seen backline in the season opener — Tony Beltran, Chris Schuler, Kwame Watson-Siriboe and Kenny Mansally — all of whom played the full 90-plus minutes.
The Claret and Cobalt will return to Utah Monday evening for just one day before leaving for our nation’s capital to take on MLS opponent D.C. United Saturday, March 9. RSL will open home play at Rio Tinto Stadium on March 16 as it hosts the Colorado Rapids for the first leg of the Subaru Rocky Mountain Cup.
Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
