Real Salt Lake and the Colorado Rapids made history in an odd way Thursday night in Denver, Colo. The Rocky Mountain rivals each scored an own goal and finished the match in a 1-1 tie.
This marks the first time in Major League Soccer history in which all scoring was done by own goals.
Real Salt Lake’s Jack Stewart initiated the insanity when a Rapids shot was deflected by the RSL goalkeeper into Stewart’s thigh. The ball shot off his leg and into the back of the net, stunning Stewart and his teammates in the fourth minute and putting Colorado up 1-0.
But Colorado’s good fortune did not last long. In the 13th minute, Herculez Gomez scored the second goal of the match for Colorado from the left wing, only to have it erased by an offsides call.
The 15th minute brought more problems for the home team as Real Salt Lake’s Freddy Adu led an attack. As Adu approached the net, he took a vicious shot that was deflected by Colorado defender Pablo Mastroeni into the net.
The rest of the first half stayed quiet save for the occasional threatening attack.
A spectacular one-han ded save in the 45th minute by Rapid keeper Bouna Coundoul off an Adu shot kept the game even before the break.
Gomez repeated his previous offsides gaff in the 66th minute when he scored another goal for naught due to an offsides call.
Likewise, Real Salt Lake could not take advantage of the resurgent play of Adu from the midfield spot.
The 17-year-old tied his season total for shots on goal with four in the second leg of the quest for the Rocky Mountain Cup. The Cup is awarded to the winner of the season series between Colorado and Real Salt Lake. RSL has yet to capture the Cup in two tries, but hopes this third season will bear better endings.
Colorado keeps its command of the Western Conference with the draw, extending its record to 2-2-2.
Newly appointed coach Jason Kreis remains unscathed in what is only his second game at the helm. But Real Salt Lake remains winless on the season with a record of 0-2-4.
Real Salt Lake plays next on May 20 at Dallas.