RSL clinches playoff spot, settles for 3-3 draw after early lead against Portland
by Caleb Turner, KSL.com · KSL.comEstimated read time: 1-2 minutes
SANDY — A pair of teams on opposite ends of the playoff picture battled for more than 90 minutes to a 3-3 draw Saturday night at America First Field.
Real Salt Lake clinched a playoff berth for the fourth year in a row no matter the outcome in Sandy after Austin lost to Houston earlier in the evening. But a win never hurts, and the home team seemed well on its way to one after a 2-0 start through 22 minutes.
Newcomer Dominik Marczuk got his first MLS goal in the 10th minute, and Diego Luna got back on the score sheet with a goal 12 minutes later for a comfortable halftime lead. Portland broke through in the second 45 minutes, however, with goals by Antony and Evander in the 62nd and 76th minutes.
A 90th-minute goal by Diogo Goncalves for his first score in an RSL jersey appeared to win the game, but Portland fired back, once again, two minutes later with another equalizer by Jonathan Rodriguez to end the night in a 3-3 stalemate and split the points in the standings between the clubs.
The two teams maintained their spots in the playoff race after the draw, with RSL in second in the West and Portland in eighth, where it would currently face a play-in game against Minnesota.
The Claret and Cobalt head back to the Lone Star next for a match against Austin FC on Sept. 28.
This story will be updated.
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Caleb Turner
Caleb Turner covers Real Salt Lake as the team's beat writer for KSL.com Sports. He also oversees the sports team's social media accounts.