A late winner from Olmes Garcia and a penalty save from Nick Rimando earned Real Salt Lake a 2-1 away win over New England Revolution this evening.
The home side should have been ahead in the sixth minute when Jerry Bengston was put through on goal by Lee Nguyen but after taking the ball around the keeper, he squared the ball instead of shooting and the chance was spurned.
After the break, the hosts were denied the lead again as Diego Fagundez's low shot was well saved by Rimando, who got down low to his right to keep the effort out.
New England finally took the lead when Kelyn Rowe raided down the right and lifted the ball into the penalty area for Ryan Guy, who met the cross with a first-time volley which flew into the bottom corner.
Salt Lake were almost level immediately but Bobby Shuttleworth did well to beat away Devon Sandoval's header, which looked to be creeping into the corner of the net.
However, minutes later Shuttleworth could do nothing to deny Sandoval as he poked the ball from close range after the keeper had saved an effort from the edge of the area from Sebastian Velasquez.
Salt Lake took the lead two minutes from time when Kyle Beckerman drilled a volley at goal from a corner which Shuttleworth kept out but Garcia was there to turn the ball in.
The Revolution were handed a lifeline when Carlos Salcedo fouled Rowe in the box and was duly sent off as the referee awarded a penalty. However, Saer Sene was denied by Rimando from the spot, which earned Salt Lake the victory.
Simon Sinclair
