RSL loses to Portland in a fiery affair

Real Salt Lake came out of the gates with a lot more offensive prowess than we have seen in the past couple of matches. There was some nice build-up and some good chances that got the crowd excited. In the 23rd minute RSL was able to convert off of a corner kick. It only took Luke Mulholland two touches to slot one past Portland keeper Donovan Ricketts.

Shortly after, Portland pulled one back off of a nice corner from Valeri to Adi. RSL kept pushing but got caught with their pants down off of a poor decision coming out of a set piece and the Timbers took a lead in a four on two situation that RSL would be unable to take back.

In the beginning of the second half, Tony Beltran got two yellow cards within the span of a minute or two and RSL went down to 10 men. The first was a nice tactical decision, the second was a bit reckless but the ref hesitated before he gave him the red card. In the 71st minute, Schuler slid in the box to stop another Portland chance and his arm was in the wrong place at the wrong time and a PK was rewarded. Will Johnson, the form RSL stalwart, sealed the fate of the game and RSL was unable to make much happen after that.