From Deseret News archives:
Real Salt Lake, K.C. wind up scoreless in SLC
Despite long stretches of dominating soccer at Rice-Eccles Stadium, including 19 shots for RSL, it failed to capitalize on those plentiful chances and was forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against Kansas City.
Perhaps it was a fitting outcome for two teams who entered the match in identical positions. Both were sitting on 11 points in the standings and sixth place in their respective conferences.
"There's a lot of positive things to take out of that game, I think there was a lot of good soccer on our part, I really felt like we were the aggressors the entire night," said RSL coach John Kreis. "The only thing you can shake your head about or scratch your head about is the final touch, 'cause if that was there I think we would've had quite a few goals tonight."
It wasn't, however, and on a night when RSL outshot Kansas City 19-7, it walked away with its first scoreless draw of the season.
"I was pretty pleased with the way we played. I thought we played pretty good soccer ... the goal just wasn't there for us," said midfielder Kyle Beckerman. "If we went 0-0 and we didn't create any chances, then it would be a different story — we'd be really frustrated and a bit worried."
The draw keeps RSL unbeaten at home at 3-0-3, but points were definitely once again left on the table like in previous home ties. In a 1-1 draw with Chicago in the opener, RSL outshot the Fire 17-8. In a 2-2 finish against the Galaxy, Salt Lake failed to put the visitors away with several chances that would've made it 3-0 in the first half.
"They know we need three points at home every home outing, and if we don't get it consider it a failure, so they're very, very frustrated we didn't get all three points," said Kreis.
There were plenty of opportunities to prevent such an outcome. After struggling to get going in the opening 20 minutes of the match, RSL poured it on in the final 25 minutes of the half, outshooting Kansas City 12-2.
The best sequence came in the 28th minute. Deuchar tried tapping a Beckerman through-ball past a charging Kevin Hartman, but the Kansas City keeper got a slight touch to knock it wide. On the ensuing corner kick, Deuchar's point-blank header was turned away by Hartman, and the Scottish striker sent his rebound chance over the cross bar.
In the 36th minute, Findley whiffed on a half-chance about six yards from goal, and three minutes later Findley, the reigning MLS Player of the Week, was denied by a Hartman diving save.
