RSL draws 1-1 with fellow West leader LAFC despite Arango, Gomez suspensions

LOS ANGELES — Real Salt Lake faced its first test without All-Star leader Chicho Arango after his four-match suspension was announced Monday and came away with a point in a 1-1 draw on the road against LAFC on Wednesday.

"The guys chose the right type of heart tonight, which was the sacrifice for the team," head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "I told the guys, 'You can choose your heart, but you don't want to choose the heart of the regret. That's the worst kind of heart.' And tonight, I think the guys are feeling good about the performance."

RSL was also missing up-and-coming winger Andres Gomez due to yellow card accumulation. Still, the rest of the team stepped up and dominated both possession and shots against an LAFC team now tied with RSL for second in the Western Conference.

The home team hit first in LA with an advantageous strike off a missed clearance from RSL keeper Zac MacMath in the fifth minute. The "road warriors" — as they've come to be known under Mastroeni — responded by pressing high up against the LAFC defense and eventually earned a crucial free kick outside the box in the 33rd minute.

Brayan Vera hit a strong left-footer that took a favorable deflection and found the back of the net to tie the game on his first goal of the year for RSL.

"He hits a real heavy ball," Mastroeni said of Vera's free kick. "I would not want to put a wall in front of a free kick from Vera, because it can really go anywhere. He's got such power on it."

The road team got 17 more shots off but only managed to get two more on frame as the absence of Arango and Gomez's accuracy became apparent.

MacMath redeemed himself with four saves to keep the score level and maintain RSL level with LAFC near the top of the West standings, just 2 points behind the LA Galaxy who have played one more game than RSL.

"It's definitely a good foundation to now go to another difficult place in Colorado and put together the same type of performance," Mastroeni said.

The Claret and Cobalt stay on the road for a Rocky Mountain Cup match against the Colorado Rapids on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. MDT.

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