RSL held on to a 0-0 draw against Minnesota for the third straight draw

SANDY – A positive twist on an otherwise lackluster night for Real Salt Lake is that the Claret and Cobalt got their first shutout since August in a 0-0 draw against Minnesota United at America First Field on Wednesday.

However, the lasting result is that RSL suffered three draws in a row. That means just 3 points from their last three games, with Houston and Colorado just 3 points away from stealing a top-four spot and home-field advantage from RSL in the final two weeks of the MLS season.

“The game had a real playoff feel and the margins are slim,” head coach Pablo Mastroeni said of the game that could have secured a playoff spot for Minnesota with a win. “I think that’s the attitude; and I think it’s important to improve with every game.”

In Wednesday's game, there were a total of 21 shots and seven shots on goal between the two teams without a goal being recorded.

“(In) the game against Portland we didn’t really defend set pieces well; (and in the) game against Austin we didn't defend the penalty area well. We did both tonight,” Mastroeni said of the positive aspects of defense. “On a day when you’re not confident in front of goal, those are big steps, especially now.”

In a controversial matter, six yellow cards were handed out and RSL's Brayan Vera received a red card in the final minutes of stoppage time after the referee reviewed the video review and said Vera had spit on an opposition player.

Zac MacMath made three saves for the home team and started October with a clean sheet after conceding 11 goals in four games in September.

RSL hits the road in San Jose on Saturday for its penultimate game of the regular season before a week off before the season finale at home against Vancouver on October 19th.