SANDY, Utah -- In looking for an offensive spark on Friday night at Rio Tinto Stadium, Real Salt Lake's Javier Morales nearly ran out of time as he was set to be subbed out for Jordan Allen in the 63rd minute.
Before the change was made, however, Morales lofted a ball over two San Jose defenders and onto the foot of Luke Mulholland for the equalizer. Allen was pulled back and Morales finished out the game, providing the control of the ball and attacking creativity Salt Lake needed in a 1-1 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes.
It was Morales' third assist of the season in helping Salt Lake remain unbeaten at home this season.
“He can make those passes everyday in his sleep,” Mulholland said after the game. “I was just trying to get up the field as much as possible.”
Mulholland made a run near the penalty spot and Morales dropped the ball right in his path for an impressive one-time finish in the 64th minute. And in this case, the timing worked out well for the hosts.
“I wanted to make sure the energy level was high and Javi had put in a good shift,” RSL head coach Jeff Cassar said. “Then he had just picked it up within the last five minutes. He showed a burst and showed he could make it to the end.”
Not only did he make it to the end, Morales forced San Jose 'keeper David Bingham into two saves in stoppage time, but neither the shots nor the ensuing corner kicks created a game-winner as RSL tied at home for the fourth straight game.
“We're our own worst enemies at times,” Mulholland said. “We hand these teams a goal in the first half and have to fight so hard just to get back into the game, never mind taking control of the game and dictating control when we have the lead.
“It was good for us that we were able to get the equalizer,” he continued. “It still gives us 30 minutes to get the game-winner and plenty of times I feel like we would.
“We were unfortunate not to get a second goal and shake the monkey off our back.”
With scoring remaining an issue for the moment, the injury to Yura Movsisyan looms large. The Armenian international came off in the 44th minute due to a hip flexor strain and was replaced by Olmes Garcia. With three games in six days on the horizon, offensive depth and performance is a concern.
“I saw him briefly and it's pretty tender,” Cassar said. “That's very concerning especially with this three-game stretch. We don't want to get thin anywhere and Yura is a big, big part of this team.”
