Real Salt Lake posts franchise-record 14th straight unbeaten with 0-0 draw at CF Montreal
Zac MacMath made two saves to earn his fourth clean sheet of 2024 as RSL shut out CF Montreal, 0-0 in front of an announced crowd of 19,619 fans at Stade Saputo.
Real Salt Lake’s unbeaten run hit a historic milestone Saturday in Canada.
But the players still aren’t satisfied.
Zac MacMath made two saves to earn his fourth clean sheet of 2024 as RSL shut out CF Montreal, 0-0 in front of an announced crowd of 19,619 fans at Stade Saputo in Montreal, Quebec.
It’s the 14th straight result without a loss for Real Salt Lake (9-2-7, 34 points), matching club’s all-time record that has stood since 2010.
And it came with a couple of usual starters away from the lineup.
Matt Crooks was away from the squad, handing Anderson Julio his second consecutive start and moving Chicho Arango into the No. 10 role underneath him until Fidel Barajas replaced Julio in the 74th minute.
With Justen Glad nursing an ankle injury, Bode Hidalgo joined Brayan Vera at center back.
And yet Salt Lake’s defense hummed as much as it has all season, though admittedly against the 12th-place team in the East with a 4-7-6 overall record.
Still, credit goes to that back line, which adjusted to Hidalgo’s insertion via the continuity of Vera, Alexandros Katranis and Andrew Brody. Hidalgo, a Utah native who grew up in Kaysville before joining the RSL Academy, even helped spring one of the better attacking chances of the night when he blocked a shot in the 14th minute that Andrés Gómez took on the counter.
“Bode’s one of our faster players, and certainly one of our more athletic (players),” RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni said. “But the other job he did fantastic at tonight was playing out of the back, and playing decisive balls through the middle of the field, finding our pivots. It’s that level of confidence on the ball that I think really pushed Montreal back.
“For any team, you could send profiles; the speed Justen Glad has does a lot for our back line. Replacing him with Bode has paid huge dividends, and really calms the psyche of guys like Brody or Alex, knowing you have a similar player with their athletic abilities. I can’t say enough good things about Bode.”
Salt Lake had the better of possession and out-shot Montreal 8-5 in the first half. But the visitors placed just two shots on target, via Diego Luna and Gómez.
The chances continued in the second half, but no breakthrough. RSL held 60% of possession at Stade Saputo, out-shot the hosts 19-11 and limited CF Montreal to just two shots on target.
Mastroeni admitted there was some “frustration” in the locker room following the scoreless draw. But the club that leads the Western Conference by a point (over a fast-rising LAFC in second) has earned the right to feel some semblance of frustration after not converting at least one of its chances.
“Whether we’re home or away, we want to win games,” Mastroeni said. “The guys were frustrated, but they also acknowledged the fact that it’s not easy playing games on the road. Controlling the game is the most important part of that.
“It’s taken us now 18 games to get to this point where we feel we can go on the road and control large portions of this game. Obviously, we’re frustrated with the result. But I feel like we’re getting braver with every performance … The pivots were fantastic tonight, combing with our wide players. Frustrated with the result, but I think we’re pleased with the progress as we head into the final stretch of the campaign.”
The win cemented an undefeated season in Canada, following a 2-1 win over Vancouver back on March 23. The only other matchup against one of Major League Soccer’s three Canadian clubs comes on Decision Day against the Whitecaps, Saturday, Oct. 19 in Sandy, Utah.
RSL next travels to Sporting Kansas City, with kickoff Wednesday from Children’s Mercy Park at 6:30 p.m. MT Wednesday on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.