From Deseret News archives:
Up to the minute: Real pulls huge upset with Cunningham penalty kicks
D.C. United was in the midst of a 14-game unbeaten streak heading into the match, and many were touting it as one of the best teams in Major League Soccer history. Real Salt Lake, meanwhile, owned the worst record in MLS and had given points away in two straight games because of stoppage goals against.
For all the reasons RSL had no business winning, it reiterated MLS including the officiating is unpredictable up until the waning seconds, even with mighty D.C. United.
Real scored on a pair of Jeff Cunningham penalty kicks, one in the 90th and one in the 95th minute, as it rallied for an improbable 2-1 victory over D.C. in front of a crowd of 20,027.
"We saw against Dallas and Chivas a team can score in the last 30 seconds, so we weren't going to give up," said Real rookie defender Willis Forko.
Last Saturday, Real let a 0-0 draw slip away by allowing Dallas to score in the final 30 seconds of stoppage time. On Wednesday, Real's poor game management in stoppage time allowed Chivas to rally for a 3-3 draw with a goal 3:44 into stoppage time.
Even though RSL controlled the second half by outshooting D.C. United 10-2, as the 89th minute approached, it seemed like a forgone conclusion that D.C. would hang on like it always does.
That's when D.C. defender John Wilson did Real a huge favor by taking down RSL midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy inside the box with a desperate, lazy tackle. Cunningham buried the penalty kick to tie it up at 1-1.
Wilson's night was about to get much worse. Less than 30 seconds from the final whistle, he tripped up Chris Klein in the penalty box near the end line, and again the referee pointed to the spot.
As Cunningham approached his second penalty kick, he hesitated for just a second, saw Perkins leaning to his right and promptly buried the low driven shot just inside the opposite post.
"Tonight there's a man upstairs that's on our side," said a smiling Cunningham after the match.
The victory improved Real's record to 5-10-5 on the season and lifted it into a fifth-place tie in the Western Conference standings with Los Angeles on 20 points.
The favorable calls were poetic justice for Ellinger, who earlier this year accused a referee of cheating him.
"Sooner or later we gotta feel like we're going to get some breaks, but I feel we made our own breaks," said Ellinger. "We got into the box and made some plays.
Comments
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling 1:19 a.m.
- Brems outlasts 2nd round of votes 1:04 a.m.
- 2 families divided over slaying 1:04 a.m.
- Teen shot in scuffle with trooper 1:03 a.m.
- Nature's Way leaving Utah County 1:03 a.m.
- 'Grandfamilies' a growing trend 12:31 a.m.
- 'Cyber Monday' sales top records 12:29 a.m.
- 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game 12:26 a.m.
- No drugs in driver of Am.F. band bus 12:15 a.m.
- Governor Mansion to begin free tours 12:14 a.m.
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Y. student vanished in China
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- Max Hall issues apology
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- Teen shot in scuffle with trooper
- Matthews passes new Jazz tests
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
898 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Max Hall issues apology
379 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
370 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
316 - Utes won't respond to Hall
257 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
121 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
120 - Religion in politics is tiresome
110
There's a chance the BYU Cougars could be without the services of...
There are some games I love not on your list. Arkham Asylum for one.
Our parents made my brothers help kill and clean our rabbits before we ate...
Why would you keep it open? I would understand if there was a lot of amazing...
The government will run our health care well? Read Reader's Digest, November...
TCU stomped on the MWC so they are naturally ready to crush Florida, Alabama...
could you understand Dave Locke any more than my mom does and she is not even...
Attending the ND/BYU game 3 years ago in south bend, a couple of things stuck...
I missed the game, actually i heard a little bit of Locke on the radio (man...
quotes were good: Article was dumb and unnecessary.
I believe the art depicting Joseph looking at the plates may possibly be...




You can be the first to comment on this story.