Real Salt Lake notes: Woozy Findley exits early

Robbie Findley's stint on the field Saturday night was much shorter than Real Salt Lake was hoping or needed.

The speedy striker was replaced in the 41st minute after blacking out just briefly while trying to challenge New England's Sainey Nyassi for a ball near midfielder a few minutes earlier.

Findley went limp as he hit the turf, and the referee immediately signaled to RSL's bench for the trainer to come onto the field. Findley walked off the field under his own power, but he looked woozy and was replaced by rookie Tino Nunez who was making his fifth appearance of the season, all as a substitute.

Findley is tied for the team lead with three goals this year, and three weeks ago he was named MLS Player of the Week after notching a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win over San Jose.

After the match, Findley said the trainers informed him he had a mild concussion. He remembers what happened until the hit, but after that he says he has no recollection of leaving the field or heading into the locker room.

It all worked out in the end for RSL, as Findley's substitute scored the game-winning goal.

RECORD BREAKER: Real Salt Lake's shutout streak reached the 279th minute three minutes into Saturday's match, surpassing the old franchise record of 278 straight scoreless minutes set last year.

The old mark was spread over four games from May 20 to June 14 in 2007. Nick Rimando was in goal for the old streak, and the RSL keeper was in goal for the new streak as well.

The streak eventually ended at 283 minutes when New England's Adam Christman scored in the eighth minute. The goal also ended a three game shutout streak for Real Salt Lake.

NOTEWORTHY WIN: Keeper Nick Rimando recorded his 11th win in a Real Salt Lake uniform Saturday night, surpassing Scott Garlick for the all-time lead. It was also the 76th win of his MLS career, ranking him sixth in the MLS record books.

Garlick registered all 10 of his victories in net with RSL in 2006, while Rimando earned six wins in 2007 and four thus far in 2008.

BRIEF DEBUT: Nikolas Besagno, on loan from Real Salt Lake to the Seattle Sounders of the United Soccer League, made his debut with the lower division club Friday night against Miami FC entering the match in the 89th minute.

The Maple Valley, Wash. native was loaned to the Sounders until mid-December or until RSL feels the need to recall him. Friday's match ended in a 0-0 draw.

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E-mail: jedward@desnews.com