Real Salt Lake Season Ends With Loss In Snow Versus SKC

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake’s season is over after falling to arch-rivals Sporting Kansas City 2-0 in the midst of an early winter snowstorm. Unfortunately, Nedum Onuoha finished his illustrious 16-year professional career with a loss.

“I wanted to win this game so bad, for many reasons, but the most being for Nedum,” Juarez said.

Manager Freddy Juarez opted to give David Ochoa his much-awaited start at goalkeeper, albeit in less than ideal conditions. Snow fell throughout the entire contest as the temperature gradually dropped as the time progressed.

“Definitely way quicker and everything was faster – with the shots and all that,” Ochoa said in the post-game.

Winter wonderland ❄️ pic.twitter.com/pNFFxZuoDE

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) November 9, 2020

With the temperature dropping, the play of RSL followed.

In the 45th minute, RSL conceded the first goal of the game after Ilie Sánchez slotted the ball home from a deflected save from Ochoa. The shot bypassed multiple RSL jumpers to eventually settle in the back of the net.

It was the fourteenth time this season that RSL has conceded the first goal of the game. They have played in 23 fixtures.

Whatever half-time pep talk Juarez gave the players did not have the effect in which he was hoping for as three minutes into the second half RSL quickly found themselves down a pair.

A poor decision by Ochoa to come off his line, which is always the risk when you start a 19 year old for the first time, resulted in a tap in goal from Erik Hurtado.

The heart and soul of this once-proud organization were being tampered with yet again, only this time by one of their fierce enemies.

Thank You Nedum

The most heartwarming moment of the night came in the 63rd minute when Onuoha was subbed off to a standing reception and applause by the fans and his teammates.

“I just feel really happy,” Onuoha told the fans following the conclusion of the game. “I have made so many great memories here and have met so many beautiful people. I cannot thank everyone enough for all of the support, it has been a pleasure,” he added.

Onuoha plans on leaving the state of Utah sometime early in December and will travel back to England where he is excited to spend time with his family and loved ones.

It’s been an absolute honor, @kickback_nedum. pic.twitter.com/i6WuwUo3cn

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) November 9, 2020

A Painful Season Comes To An End

The loss captures the season in a nutshell. A strong start with a collapse during the middle portion and a slow, often painful crawl to the finish line.

RSL ends the 2020 season in the 11th position in the Western Conference with 1.05 points per game next to their name. Only the LA Galaxy and the Houston Dynamo finished further down the table than RSL.

Unfortunately for RSL, the upcoming off-season will be different for employees of RSL. The club will (hopefully) endure a change at the ownership level which will potentially bring a lot of change with it.

Who knows what the club looks like in 2021 but change is imminent and required for the club to begin its climb back up the Western Conference and into MLS Cup contention.