KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The goals for Real Salt Lake were simple: Hold shape against Sporting Kansas City's high press, look for chances to punish mistakes – and convert those chances.
They went three for three, and walked away from Children's Mercy Park with three points for the second time this year.
“It was huge,” said RSL captain Kyle Beckerman, whose pass sprung Yura Movsisyan for a key insurance goal in the 53rd minute of Saturday night's 3-1 victory. “We were able to stay compact in the back, which was one of the focuses coming into the game. Then it was about creating some chances and making sure you finish.”
RSL did that ruthlessly, going up 1-0 in the 32nd minute when Sporting left Juan Manuel "Burrito" Martinez unmarked for a cool finish inside the right post, then making it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time when Movsisyan drilled a cross off Brad Davis' back for an own goal.
“You know, We looked a lot at their last home game (Sporting KC's 2-1 victory last Sunday over Orlando City SC) when they had 34 shots, so we knew they were going to be coming out firing,” coach Jeff Cassar said. “But we knew we were going to be able to get chances on the other end, and that was our game plan.
“When you score on them early it changes their game plan. They have to push out more and then we can get some more chances.”
Dom Dwyer pulled one back for Sporting in the 50th minute – but three minutes later, Beckerman's pass sprung Movsisyan for a long run and a cool chip past goalkeeper Tim Melia to put Salt Lake back up by two.
“When they scored, it was pretty early in the half,” Beckerman said. “They were feeling good. They felt confident, and the momentum was going their way – so to kind of nip it in the bud there and get the momentum back on our side was really important.”
The victory snapped a two-match losing streak for Real, who are in the midst of a five-match league road swing. It wasn't easy, though, as Sporting continued to find space behind the back line. A combination of missed finishes and goalkeeper Nick Rimando's diving save on a left-footed blast from Davis in the 64th minute kept Kansas City from closing the gap, though.
“It's the movement of all the [Sporting KC] players that really makes you pick your poison,” Cassar said. “If you follow people inside, it allows Dwyer to get in those channels and we didn't want to do that – but some credit has to go to Kansas City for making you deal with it. They really make you test if you believe in what you're doing – and credit to our players, they did that. They kept their shape, they kept their discipline and they punished them on the other end.”
