Recap: Real Salt Lake 1, Minnesota United 1

Pardeep Cattry

Niko Hansen's late goal rescued a point for Minnesota United, who picked up a 1-1 draw against Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts wasted very little time getting shots on the board, getting close to scoring an opening goal in the seventh minute through Paulo Ruiz. The team did not have to wait long for the game's opening goal, which Damir Kreilach scored in the 13th minute. From a free kick, Aaron Herrera sent the ball towards Ruiz on the right side of the pitch. Ruiz then sent the ball towards the front of goal, where Kreilach was waiting for a light touch that broke the deadlock.

RSL rode that momentum a little while longer, but the rhythm of play shifted at about the midway point of the half. The Loons got close in the 28th minute when debutant Adrien Hunou's header was wide of the target. Despite their efforts, Minnesota ended the first half without a shot on target.

The second half was back and forth but with neither team excelling offensively as they went without a shot on target for the first 30 minutes of the period. RSL's Justin Meram finally forced goalkeeper Tyler Miller into a save in the 75th minute with his shot from distance.

The match livened up in the 78th minute, when a goalkeeping error led to Minnesota's first shot on target and an equalizer. Zac MacMath was unable to collect from a cross, with the ball bouncing out of his grasp, bouncing back off Hansen and bobbling into the back of the net.

The goal inspired the hosts to to go back in search of a win they thought was theirs, but a Meram shot in the 90th minute saved by Miller.

Goals

13' - RSL - Damir Kreilach | WATCH
78' - MIN - Niko Hansen | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: The two sides played a relatively even match, though the result came down to a goalkeeping error that provided a gift to a Minnesota team that otherwise lacked accuracy and urgency going forward. The dropped points leave the hosts just below the playoff line in the West, while Minnesota pick up another valuable point as they look to recover from an 0-4 start to the season.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Zac MacMath's error was Minnesota's gain, allowing Niko Hansen to score and the Loons to pick up a point on the road to continue a three-game unbeaten run.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Aaron Herrera put in a solid 90 minute shift for RSL, dominating the right wing both in attack and defense and recording an assist on the game's opening goal.