Real Salt Lake ties Sporting KC 1-1 in first leg of Western Conference semis

Sandy • Real Salt Lake looked like a different team than the one that stunned Los Angeles Football Club just three days ago.

It kept much more possession, at times appearing to purposely keep the ball for a beat or two before passing. It mustered more shots in the first half (five) than it did in the entire game against LAFC (four).

That translated to a different result for RSL, which played to a 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City on Sunday night in the first leg of the Western Conference semifinals at Rio Tinto Stadium. The second leg will be in Kansas City on this coming Sunday at 1 p.m. Mountain Time.

“I’ll give my guys a lot of credit — they were a little tired, let’s be honest,” RSL head coach Mike Petke said. “But I still think tonight we didn’t give them much.”

Due to the aggregate scoring model in Major League Soccer, RSL will advance to the Western Conference championship with a win or a draw in which it scores two or more goals.

The first half moved slower than molasses on a cold day. Real kept the ball almost 70 percent of the time and the teams only managed 11 shots combined in 45 scoreless minutes. Petke said he thought his players had heavy legs in the first half.

“We weren’t as fresh, probably, today,” forward Albert Rusnák said. “I think every single player left everything out there in LA.”

Real had 10 shots, three of which were on target. Most of those came from Rusnák, who tallied four shots for RSL. But he won’t be on the field next week in Kansas City due to picking up a yellow card on his first foul in the 26th minute.

Rusnák said he executed a routine tackle on the play, one that is seen “all over the world.” He said him missing the next game is “unacceptable.”

“I don’t know whether it’s because it’s playoffs [that] the referees are more careful about these things or what,” said Rusnák, who earned a yellow card against LAFC. “At the end of the day, referees can make mistakes as well.”

Damir Kreilach said it will be difficult to have Rusnák on the sidelines because he is one of the most important players on the team. But he is employing the next-man-up mentality.

“It’s tough for the team,” Kreilach said. “But in the end we are one team and we will give the best of us to create some good result in Kansas City.”

Rusnák, in the 52nd minute from inside the 18-yard box, chipped the ball to Kreilach, who headed the ball back to Rusnák for the right-footed strike and a 1-0 lead.

Petke said the team came out with more “gusto” in the second half after seeing slow off-ball movement in the first.

SKC equalized in the 60th minute with Diego Rubio’s goal off Felipe Gutiérrez’s assist.

“We’re not out of this for sure,” Rusnák said. “But on the other side, it is disappointing to give that type of goal at home.”

Another disappointment: Because of a yellow card accumulation, Rusnák will be forced to sit out the second leg at Kansas City, meaning Real must go forward without one of its primary offensive weapons.

Damir Kreilach said it will be difficult to have Rusnák on the sidelines, but he is employing the next-man-up mentality.

“It’s tough for the team,” Kreilach said. “But in the end we are one team and we will give the best of us to create some good result in Kansas City.”

RSL’s defense saved a sure goal in the 74th minute. Sporting KC earned a free kick after Kyle Beckerman was given a yellow card. Rimando punched the ball out of the box, but it went right to another KC player, who shot hard at goal.

Rimando saved that attempt with his glove. The ball rebounded to KC for another shot that Nedum Onuohoa kicked away.

Notes

Marcelo Silva appeared to get injured in the first half and was replaced by Justen Glad in the 41st minute.