Foxborough, Mass. • Tate Schmitt scored a goal in the 3rd minute of second-half stoppage time, capping a wild comeback by Real Salt Lake in a snowy 3-2 victory over the New England Revolution in MLS action on Saturday.
“We were just pushing the play forward, slipped Jasper [Loeffelsend] into the middle, the ball got deflected out, and I took a touch into that space,” Schmitt said. “I was at the point where my legs were about done, so it was more just a hope. But I put it on frame, and good things happen when you strike the ball hard. That is what our mentality was in the last 15 minutes, play balls into the box and we will get those bounces, get those flicks, and we had to believe in that. We had those two opportunities that went our way, and the third one continued after that. We were fortunate to have that hard work at the end and get those three points.”
The Revolution took a 1-0 lead into halftime when Emmanuel Boateng scored in the third minute of first-half stoppage time. Jozy Altidore, who signed with New England as a free agent, entered the game in the 60th minute and scored in the 62nd to push the Revolution’s lead to 2-0.
Sergio Córdova, who signed with RSL on loan from FC Augsburg, cut the deficit in half at the 78-minute mark with his first MLS goal. Justen Glad scored in the 88th minute to knot the score at 2 and set the stage for Schmitt. Jasper Loffelsend assisted on the game-winner.
“I remember Scott [Caldwell] running off the field saying ‘C’mon guys give it our all. We got 25 more minutes left,’ just instilling that belief into us,” Schmitt said. “I think Pablo [Mastroeni] has done a great job this whole preseason saying ‘Any little factors that don’t go our way, don’t make excuses but find solutions for them. Always have that belief that we will get something out of every opportunity that we work for.’ I think it just rolled into the game. We had those variables, the weather, that we couldn’t control. We had those bounces that didn’t go our way, but we just kept with it, stayed the course, and we found those opportunities at the end that made the difference.”
The Revolution outshot RSL 12-10, but trailed in shots on goal 7-5.
Zac MacMath had three saves for RSL. Earl Edwards Jr. saved four in goal for New England.
