RSL can't cash in on chances in 0-0 draw to Columbus

SANDY — Real Salt Lake had almost double the shots on goal on Saturday than its opponent the Columbus Crew but couldn't find the back of the net in the team's first 0-0 draw since June 2023.

A sold-out crowd at America First Field gasped at every opportunity as RSL got eight shots on goal and generated over two expected goals to less than one for the defending MLS champion Crew.

"It's definitely tough, but that's how it goes sometimes," Justen Glad said of the goal-less draw. "Our goal is to just get one game better, so hopefully next game they fall for us."

Columbus elected to rest most of its starters after a win in penalties over Tigres in the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Tuesday, allowing RSL to dominate for much of the match, even if the scoreboard didn't reflect it.

Chicho Arango put four of his six shots on frame, and Fidel Barajas came on in the second half for another pair of shots on target as the team looked to capture some of the magic from a 3-1 win over St. Louis in their last home match.

Columbus played two goalkeepers in the match due to concussion protocol for starter Evan Bush, with he and substitute Nicholas Hagen combining for an impressive eight saves on the night.

The two great chances from RSL that weren't saved were a point-blank chance in front of goal from Andres Gomez that he hit just wide of the goal and a Matt Crooks shot off the post.

"I think the biggest takeaway for me was the chance Andres had in the first half in front of goal and Crooks hitting the post," head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "There's a couple others, but I think on the whole you just need to make better decisions than that."

The final major chance of the evening came on a penalty drawn by Anderson Julio in the 85th minute, but he was later ruled offside and the match ended in a stalemate.

RSL hits the road for two matches in a row next to face the Chicago Fire on April 20 and the Philadelphia Union on April 27.

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