Sandy, UT (Sports Network) - Real Salt Lake secured a spot in the postseason
on Saturday, escaping its match at Rio Tinto Stadium with a 2-1 win over the
Portland Timbers.
The Claret and Cobalt jumped out to a comfortable two-goal lead by the
halftime break thanks to a pair of set pieces.
The home side opened the scoring in the 14th minute from a well-worked restart
as Javier Morales rolled the ball back for Fabian Espindola to hammer a left-
footed shot through the Portland wall and just inside the near post.
Morales then doubled the lead directly from a free kick in the 36th minute,
curling a shot over the wall and under the crossbar for his third goal of the
year.
Salt Lake appeared to be in cruise control until Bright Dike's header in the
61st minute made for somewhat of a nervous finish, but Jason Kreis' squad
pulled out the victory to bounce back from a loss to the Houston Dynamo last
time out.
Real Salt Lake (15-11-4) sits second in the West on 49 points and returns to
action on September 29 with a trip to The Home Depot Center to face Chivas
USA. Portland (7-15-8) remains second from bottom in the West on 29 points as
the club heads home to face D.C. United next Saturday.
The Sports Network