Real Salt Lake settles for draw vs. Quakes on short-handed extra time goal

SANDY — A point is a point, but for Real Salt Lake an inability to beat the worst teams in MLS is becoming problematic.

Against the worst team in the Western Conference, a San Jose team that hadn't won on the road and surrendered 17 goals in the process, Real Salt Lake struggled for long stretches Friday night and was ultimately forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Rio Tinto Stadium.

RSL lost at San Jose 2-1 earlier this year in addition to losing to New York, the worst team in the Eastern Conference. Is it a coincidence that RSL is winless in three games against last place teams?

"That type of thinking is part of the problem with our team. Every time we face an opponent that's down lower on the table than we are, we just think we have to show up and we're going to win. For me that's got to change, that's really got to change," said RSL coach Jason Kreis.

"Major League Soccer is very, very even. I doesn't matter who has how many points, everybody is just about as good as anybody else, and on any given day if you don't show up and give your best you'll lose."

Realistically, RSL was fortunate to even earn a draw. It fell behind in the 63rd minute, lost Fabian Espindola to a red card in the 77th minute and then miraculously benefitted from a San Jose own goal in stoppage time.

The draw extended Real Salt Lake's unbeaten streak to five, but RSL coach Jason Kreis stressed that Friday night was a match his team needed and should've secured three points.

"We've clearly stated publicly, very publicly, three points or bust at home. We didn't get three points at home so it's a failure," said Kreis.

A 2-0-2 record in June had Real Salt Lake believing it had turned the corner and was back in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race. It's tough to be considered a legitimate playoff contender if you can't beat the worst team in your conference at home.

Leading 1-0, things seemingly got better for San Jose when Espindola's reckless red card reduced his team to 10 men for the final 13 minutes.

Surprisingly, Real Salt Lake's attack got better as nine of its 19 shots came after the 77th minute.

Despite the pressure, San Jose still led 1-0 heading into the 90th minute as it bunkered in hoping for its first road win of the season.

The Earthquakes couldn't capitalize, however, as San Jose's Chris Leitch tried clearing the ball with Javier Morales on his shoulder only to redirect it past his own keeper for RSL's equalizing goal.

"Pleased with the response from the team, I thought the second half the energy level was much higher and after we got the ejected we responded the right way," said Kreis.

RSL's players will take the weekend off before reconvening to prepare for next Saturday's friendly with Mexico's Club America.

email: jedward@desnews.com