MLS action for Week 16 was concluded with a double header on Monday night. The Fourth of July gave us a classic in Sandy, Utah between Real Salt Lake and New England Revolution which ended in a 3-3 draw and both teams having ten players at the final whistle.
In just the third minute, RSL defender Nat Borchers was given his marching orders for a questionable foul on Revs midfielder Benny Feilhaber in the penalty area with Rajko Lekic sending it home with a deft chip which sent Nick Rimando the wrong way to make it 1-0.
Soon enough, New England were two ahead when Chris Tierney hammered home a low free-kick from long range in the 16th minute but RSL managed to hit back through a Will Johnson tap-in about eight minutes later.
Ten minutes into the second half, the home side were back on level terms when Alvaro Saborio converted from the spot but the Revs again hit the lead through skipper Shalrie Joseph who headed home Feilhaber's 63rd minute free-kick.
Four minutes after the score was made 3-2, the visitors were also reduced to ten men when Ryan Cochrane was shown his second yellow of the match and that allowed RSL to tie it once again through substitute Fabian Espindola who produced a neat finish with the outside of his left boot in the 83rd minute.
The draw allowed RSL to keep their brilliant home record of one loss in 34 matches and kept them fourth on the Western Conference table as the Revs remained at the bottom of the East.
In the other Monday night match, LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders played out a scoreless draw in front of 27,000 fans at The Home Depot Center.
Real Salt Lake: 3 (Will Johnson 24', Alvaro Saborio (p) 56', Fabian Espindola 83', red card: Nat Borchers 3') New England Revolution: 3 (Rajko Lekic (p) 4', Chris Tierney 16', Shalrie Joseph 63') Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT - 16,139
LA Galaxy: 0 Seattle Sounders: 0 The Home Depot Center, Carson, CA - 27,000
