July 24th, 2007 RSL vs Boca Juniors

RSL ties Boca 1-1
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RSL draws with Boca Juniors 1-1

(by Peter Richins realsaltlake.com 7-25-07)

SALT LAKE CITY -- On a damp Pioneer Day evening Real Salt Lake closed out Xango Cup 2007 with a 1-1 draw with South American champion Boca Juniors.
Although the storied Buenos Aires side controlled large amounts of possession, Salt Lake were able to score first and hang on for the draw against the club that just recently won the Copa Libertadores.

RSL created the first dangerous scoring chance of the match in just the eighth minute. Kyle Beckerman intercepted a pass and charged up the sideline before beating his marker just outside the corner of the area. From his position, Beckerman looked to be lining up for a cross, but his hard-struck drive was directed on frame and required Boca goalkeeper Pablo Migliore to make an acrobatic dive to keep it out of his net.

Recently returned from the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Freddy Adu saw the outstretched leg of his defender and drew a foul in nearly the same spot that Beckerman took his shot. The ensuing freekick, hit hard and low across the box, found Chris Lancos, but he skied his shot into the seats behind the goal.

In the 22nd minute Beckerman nearly connected with Kyle Brown in front of goal. Beckerman sent a ground-skidding cross into a streaking Brown who nicked Migliore as he cleared the ball away.

But Boca began to control possession of the ball for longer stretches of time, and as result they began to apply increased pressure on the Salt Lake goal.

Nick Rimando was up to the challenge in the 26th minute, diving back toward his own net to deflect an arcing shot from Pablo Ledesma over the bar. Then, in the 32nd minute, Rimando dropped to instinctively kick away a close range chance.

A flick from Boca defender Alvaro Gonzalez beat Rimando in the 38th minute, but luckily went just wide of the post.

Just before the intermission Adu dissected the Boca defense, splitting three defenders deep in the penalty area. But before he could break free to goal, Adu was sandwiched by his last two victims and sent to the turf.

The referee pointed to the spot, and Adu stepped to up bag the first goal of the match.

The second half opened with Boca pressing for an equalizer, frantically firing shots from long range. A few came close, but not close enough for Rimando to get a hand on.

That is until the 67th minute, when the Argentinean club pulled level on a goal from Mauro Boselli. Neri Cordozo sent a penetrating ball to the end line for Gonzalez, who floated a short cross over Rimando and onto the head of Boselli who nodded the ball into an open net.

The visitors missed a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 75th minute. Cordozo sprinted past Rimando -- beating the RSL goalkeeper with a single touch -- but his shot from a relatively narrow angle was sent into the side netting.

In similar fashion, Marcos Mondaini sent a shot in front of open net wide of the frame. Mondaini received a well-weighted pass from Ledesma just as he entered the penalty area.

But rather than place a shot past the charging Rimando, Mondaini decided to try and dribble around the Salt Lake goalkeeper. He was nearly successful, but as he got a look at goal Mondaini sent his shot harmlessly wide, and RSL was pleased to come away with the draw.

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