SALT LAKE CITY — Real Salt Lake's "Jekyll and Hyde" season continued Saturday night at TCF Bank Stadium in the Twin Cities, as they fell 3-2 to Minnesota United FC.

After playing to a scoreless first 45 mintues, Minnesota got on the board first in the 51st minute when Ibson finished a cross from Darwin Quintero about 6 yards out. Prior to the cross was a challege between Justin Glad and Darwin Quintero inside the penalty area that saw Glad go to the ground. Referee Alan Kelly allowed the play to continue without a whistle, much to the dismay of Real Salt Lake. This led to a furious exchange between RSL Head Coach Mike Pektke, who believed Glad was fouled, and Referee Alan Kelly. The arguement escalated to the point that Petke was ejected.

Ten minutes later, Minnesota went up 2-0 on a world class goal by Quintero that saw him float the ball just out of the reach of Nick Rimando from 19 yards out. Then 6 minutes later it was Quintero again. This time setting up Ibarra for what would be the game winning goal.

Down 3-0 in the 77th minute, sub Joao Plata scored on a free kick from the top of the area. In the 85th, got his "brace" scoring on a header on a beautiful ball from Brooks Lennon.

RSL was unable to find the equalizer late and fell for the eighth time on the road this season. The Claret and Cobalt stay in fourth place Saturday night with 29 points, with just four of those 29 coming away from home.

Here are my "hat trick" of thoughts on Saturday night's match:

1. VAR in theory is good; in practice, not so much

Major League Soccer, PRO referees and FIFA all need to get together this offseason and take a good hard look at how video review is implemented moving forward. This is not an RSL issue, though the club has been on the wrong end a few times this season. Rather, it's a league and sport-wide issue.

Saturday night's first goal by Minnesota may or may not have been aided by a no call on a potential foul. That aside, players and coaches have no idea when or where VAR will be used. All players and coaches in any sport want is consistency from the officials who run their games. Major League Soccer does not have it with the way they allow the match official to determine when and where VAR will be used. The decision needs to be removed from the hands of the man in the stadium and to a third/neutral party who can review the plays away from the players, coaches and fans in the stadium.

The NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL all have a centralize replay system. It's time MLS and PRO do a little revision for the good of the game.

2. Brooks Lennon never stops

RSL's right back was seemingly everywhere on Saturday night at TCF Bank Stadium. He ran the flanks and got into the attack, putting pressure on the Minnesota defense and did an admirable job of getting back defensively, too.

Where he was best in the Twin Cities was with his service. Lennon's curling right-footed ball from the outside in the 85th minute was perfectly placed on the forehead of Joao Plata, who finished it to bring Real Salt Lake back within a goal. Lennon did this multiple times in the match. This has been his MO since moving to the right back spot early this year.

Most players in his position would complain or pout about such a move. Lennon never did and now he is thriving in his new role. All the better for Real Salt Lake.

3. Road work still to do

Despite the loss, RSL isn't likely to be hurt much in the standings. They are still firmly in playoff position in the West. However, as I've stated both here and on the air. If they are going to be more than just a playoff team and hope to challenge in the Western Confernce playoffs, they'll need to figure out a way to get results on the road.

After back-to-back wins at home against the best two teams in the West, RSL dug itself a three goal deficit to a team that sat ten points behind them in the standings. Their next opportunity comes in two weeks at San Jose, currently the worst team in Major League Soccer.

Related topics