Real Salt Lake keeps Olave on bench after suspension

SANDY — For the second straight week Jamison Olave wasn't in the starting lineup for Real Salt Lake. Last week it was due to a red card suspension, but it was a coaches decision that kept him out of the lineup Friday night against San Jose.

It was likely a two-part decision. With Robbie Russell starting for Olave last week RSL earned a resounding 3-0 shutout victory over Toronto, and the coaches were probably hesitant to shake things up unnecessarily.

Second, it was probably a punishment as much as anything. Two weeks ago in Houston the RSL center back picked up a very silly red card, and RSL coach Jason Kreis didn't try and hide his displeasure. It was Olave's second red card of the season, and it probably cost RSL a victory in Houston.

Real Salt Lake was leading 1-0 when Olave picked up the red card, which forced his teammates to play the final 32 minutes with 10 men.

GUTTING IT OUT: Javier Morales was a surprise starter for Real Salt Lake on Friday night.

The midfielder was limited in training all week and listed as doubtful after picking up an ankle injury in last weekend's 3-0 victory over Toronto FC.

His inclusion was great news for RSL as it was likely to be without its three first-choice midfielders with Kyle Beckerman and Will Johnson already away on international duty.

Morales was able to gut it out and keep some continuity to RSL's midfielder.

KEEPING BUSY: Johnson got the starting nod in the midfield for the Canadian National Team in its CONCACAF Gold Cup match with Jamaica on Friday. Johnson played 70 minutes before being replaced by Josh Simpson.

Johnson has already missed two Real Salt Lake matches because of international duty and will likely miss one or two more assuming Canada advances out of group play.

A RARITY: San Jose enjoyed a mild sense of accomplishment Friday night — it didn't surrender a goal in the first half.

In seven previous road games this year the Earthquakes had allowed at least one goal in the first half of each match.

Against Real Salt Lake it went into the locker room at the half with the score level at 0-0, not bad for a team that had allowed 17 road goals prior to Friday night.

E-mail: jedward@desnews.com