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SANDY — Real Salt Lake goal-scoring rookie Corey Baird had a remarkably open shot just over 10 minutes into the team's World Cup break-returning match against San Jose.
But he muffed it, by his own admission.
"I just scuffed the shot. There’s not much else to say," Baird said. "That’s just one of those chances that you’ve got to put away, and it’s a completely different game."
And it proved to be the story of the night for RSL.
Damir Kreilach and San Jose's Danny Hoesen each scored a second-half goal as the Earthquakes split the points with Real Salt Lake, 1-1 Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium in the first match of Major League Soccer's World Cup break.
Salt Lake (7-7-2, 23 points) out-shot the visitors 28-15, but only put eight shots on goal — and six of them in the second half — in the disappointing home draw.
"They were exactly who we thought they were going to be," RSL coach Mike Petke said of San Jose. "We almost left ourselves exposed to what they are, which is very much a direct counter attacking team. We did more than enough to get three points, but like a handful of games this year, we just didn’t find the back of the net."
Kreilach opened the scoring in the 54th minute, heading home the opener with a glancing shot in the center of the frame.
Corey Baird took a touch on Albert Rusnak’s corner kick, and the former Union Berlin midfielder redirected his third goal of the season into the back of the net to give Salt Lake all the scoring it needed.
"I didn't even know much about where Damir was, but he made a great run to get on to the end of it," Baird said. "It was definitely a breakthrough moment.
"But 10 minutes after that, we did not play well. We didn’t control the game. We gave the ball away cheaply. That gave them opportunities, and confidence — and they got back into the game."
Rusnak nearly doubled the advantage just five minutes later, but his rocket from the top of the box caromed off the underside of the crossbar in the 59th minute.
Instead, Hoesen equalized for the visitors in the 65th minute. The 27-year-old Dutchman put back a saved effort by RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando to pull the Quakes level for the final half-hour.
In some ways, the Earthquakes (2-9-5, 11 points) — known for their last-gasp heroics in the brilliant career of star striker Chris Wondolowski — were unlucky not to secure the full three points. Valeri Qazaishvili saw his strike head the left post, just beyond the reach of Rimando.
But RSL kept the visitors at bay, and Jefferson Savarino nearly notched the game winner in stoppage time, as well.
"We got at them in their final third, took a number of shots and chances created," Petke said. "I think a number of players had some very good defensive moments tonight.
"But it’s tough to take too many positives, because it essentially feels like a loss."
RSL forward Bofo Saucedo echoed his coach.
"We're still in a good position going forward," said Saucedo, whose team is tied for fourth in the Western Conference. "Not every game is going to be perfect."
Center back down
Petke was forced into an early sub, bringing on Nick Besler to replace center back Justen Glad following an apparent head injury just under 30 minutes into the match.
Petke called the first-half sub "precautionary," offering no further updates on Glad's condition.
Joao Plata and Luis Silva also entered as substitutes for Salt Lake.
Next up
RSL travels to Columbus at 5:30 p.m. MT Saturday, June 30. The club hosts rival Sporting Kansas City at 8 p.m. MT Wednesday, July 4 at Rio Tinto Stadium.
