|
PANAMA CITY - Alvaro Saborio converted a penalty in the fourth minute of injury time, giving Real Salt Lake a 1-0 victory over Tauro FC and resurrecting its hopes of reaching the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals.
The loss eliminated Tauro with a third straight loss and without scoring a goal. Real Salt Lake improved to six points and in a virtual tie with Herediano atop Group 2.
Salt Lake had the better possession and more chances throughout, but was frustrated by its own poor finishing and Tauro's 19-year-old goalkeeper Vladimir Villarreal.
But Villarreal would be guilty of the foul on Saborio that resulted in the penalty, racing off his line and bringing down the Costa Rican striker with a sliding tackle at the top of the penalty area. Villarreal was able to get a hand to Saborio's penalty attempt, but could not prevent it from getting inside the right post.
It was second goal in the Champions League for Saborio, who leads RSL in scoring in Major League with 14 goals.
Herediano has two games remaining, including a home match against Tauro next week, while RSL has only a home game against the Costa Rican club remaining on October 23.
Both sides played without key personnel due to yellow-card suspension: RSL missing captain and midfielder Kyle Beckerman, while Edwin Aguilar was absent for Tauro.
Real Salt Lake had the more promising possession from the start, but quality chances were sparse on both sides.
Tauro's best moments came from distance, with Rolando Botello forcing Nick Rimando low to stop a shot after the Salt Lake goalkeeper was guilty of a giveway in the 42nd, and Manuel Vargas' left-footed drive from 25 meters that skipped wide right in the 75th.
Its best shot came in the 83rd on a counter when Ismael Diaz's run into the box left Eduardo Dasent alone on the right side of the area. But his low shot was parried wide by a diving Rimando.
Until the penalty, Salt Lake's best chances came inside the area, but uncontested headers from Saborio in the 22nd and Javier Morales in the 58th went wide. Morales had another ball at his feet almost on top of the penalty spot in the 68th, but lost his balance and was unable to make clean contact.
RSL had two opportunities in the final 10 minutes. Saborio turned to make space at the 18 but had his low right-footed shot blocked by Villarreal's leg in the 83rd, and Chris Wingert put a header wide in the 88th.
The victory ended Real Salt Lake's five-game winless streak away from home in the Champions League was only its second victory in eight games away from home in the confederation championship. The win also was only Salt Lake's fifth away from home all season.
It was the fourth loss in five games in the Champions League for Tauro, which has won only one of eight matches in the competition.
