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VANCOUVER, B.C. — Real Salt Lake made history Saturday night in Canada, posting its first-ever win inside BC Place stadium with a 1-0 shutout victory over Major League Soccer Western Conference opponent the Vancouver Whitecaps.
The Salt Lake club didn’t do it with its normal lineup, either, but with its deep roster as RSL head coach Jason Kreis started the same reserve squad that played Tuesday night, which saw 10 different starters from its previous weekend MLS match.
“We knew if we limited our own mistakes that they would capitalize on them,” RSL goalkeeper Jeff Attinella said in the post-game TV interview. “To come out here and have a part of this playoff run, you know, that’s all we can ask for.
“The normal 11 guys that start, they’ve been carrying the load, but for this group who’s been training hard and working hard every day in training to come out and get three points in a crucial game — it feels great and the locker room is absolutely buzzing right now.”
It was a performance Kreis knew was possible from his deep squad, but couldn’t have been more proud of Saturday night in Canada.
“I’m just so extremely happy for and proud of those gentlemen out there that put in an unbelievable fight for us today and put us back into a spot where perhaps we can challenge for the Supporter’s Shield,” Kreis said in the post-game TV interview.
RSL secured the shutout victory off an early goal from rookie forward Devon Sandoval in the ninth minute of play. Sandoval headed in the ball off a cross from RSL defender Lovel Palmer. Sandoval’s goal was just his third MLS goal.
The three points puts the Salt Lake club atop the MLS Western Conference with 51 points and a 15-10-6 record, which is a spot it could stay in for another week pending the result of the Seattle Sounders versus New York Red Bulls match on Sunday. A loss or draw for the Seattle side would keep RSL atop or tied for the first slot in the West.
The win also put the club back in a close race for the Supporter’s Shield as it sits tied with New York in first place.
The match saw the return of RSL defender Chris Schuler, which was his first appearance since May 11 as he’s battled injury much of the season.
The Claret and Cobalt will return to the pitch in just three days as it returns to Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup play and hosts MLS Eastern Conference opponent D.C. United in the Open Cup final Tuesday night inside Rio Tinto Stadium.
RSL will return to MLS play next weekend, Oct. 5, as it hosts Western Conference opponent FC Dallas for the third and final meeting between the two sides this regular season. Kira Terry is a sports writer covering Real Salt Lake for KSL.com. Follow her on Twitter, @kiraterry.
