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Real Salt Lake: Initial Reaction and Player Grades vs. Toronto FC

By Jordan Jacobsen

Mar 4, 2017; Sandy, UT, USA; A general view of Rio Tinto Stadium during the first half of the match between Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC, which ended in a scoreless draw. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Sandy, UT, USA; A general view of Rio Tinto Stadium during the first half of the match between Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC, which ended in a scoreless draw. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 4, 2017; Sandy, UT, USA; Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando (18) makes a save on a penalty kick by Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco (10) in the first half at Rio Tinto Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

Player Grades

Based on a scale from 1 to 10. Minimum of ten minutes needed for a score.

Goalkeeper

Nick Rimando: 8.5 MOTM. It is easy to feel a bit apathetic when it comes to yet another clean sheet for the Wall of the Wasatch. Especially one that involves a saved penalty kick. Good first game for Rimando, who single-handily kept RSL in the game from early on.

Defense

Tony Beltran: 7.5. Decent day for Tony. Had a good look for a golazo to start the second half (with maybe a little help from the wind) that caused TFC GK Clint Irwin to come off his line and make a save. He also did well corralling the TFC attack, finding himself one vs one with Giovinco for most of the game.

Mar 4, 2017; Sandy, UT, USA; Real Salt Lake defender Tony Beltran (2) and Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco (10) battle for the ball in the second half at Rio Tinto Stadium. The game ended 0-0. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Sandy, UT, USA; Real Salt Lake defender Tony Beltran (2) and Toronto FC forward Sebastian Giovinco (10) battle for the ball in the second half at Rio Tinto Stadium. The game ended 0-0. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

Chris Schuler: 7. A tale of two halves for Schuler. The second much better than the first. Outside of the early whiff on a throw-in that caused Rimando to make a huge save and a poor giveaway in the middle that led to a good look for Giovinvo, the CB played really well. Schuler came up with some big stops and interceptions late to keep the game at a draw. Arguably the biggest take away from the contest was that Schuler looked as much like as his 2014 self as he ever has.

David Horst: 7. The MLS veteran also showed well along side Schuler, bodying up Altidore on several occasions. The Horst-Schuler pairing was definitely one of the biggest positives to come from the match, other than Rimando’s stellar play behind them. Horst looked up to the task right from the first whistle.

Chris Wingert: 7. Wingert was relatively invisible for most of the match. Not necessarily in a bad way. He played a role in shutting out one of the league’s best attacks and showed he could still step in at a high level for 90 minutes, if needed. Sound passing and defending from start to finish.

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