RSL drops 2-1 to Vancouver Whitecaps on the road despite Attinella heroics

At home and clawing their way into a playoff position, Vancouver Whitecaps set Real Salt Lake's Supporters Shield hopes aflame in a 2-1 win marked by two Pedro Morales goals.

RSL defender Nat Borchers had the quote of the evening after the loss, telling the broadcast team that he didn't "think the soccer was very good tonight."

Pedro Morales scored his second of the match to put Vancouver Whitecaps up 2-1 in the 78th minute, running onto a ball cut diagonally across the box and finishing with a low, driven shot that beat Jeff Attinella when it rebounded off his own player..

Pedro Morales leveled the match for Vancouver after Carlos Salcedo clattered into an attacker, handing Vancouver Whitecaps a second penalty of the night.

Borchers gave RSL a 1-0 lead in the 58th minute, scoring from a corner with a header that nestled neatly into the corner at the far post.

Jeff Attinella, in the starting lineup to provide Nick Rimando a rest, produced what was undoubtedly the highlight of the first half when he saved a penalty from Whitecaps' Pedro Morales, pushing it out away from the action along the byline. Alvaro Saborio was whistled for the penalty in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, given very easily when he was caught with his hands on Kendall Waston's stomach.

Jeff Cassar rung in the changes for the match, with Chris Schuler and Tony Beltran both missing out with minor injuries, requiring a shuffling of the back line. Chris Wingert shifted to the right side; Abdoulie Mansally started on the left.

Nick Rimando was given a rest, with Jeff Attinella taking his place; Ned Grabavoy made way for Luis Gil in the starting eleven, presumably for the same reason.

Finally, Alvaro Saborio rejoined the starting lineup for the first time since before the World Cup break, when he suffered that metatarsal fracture that kept him out for far too long (but actually a surprisingly short amount of time.)