Luis Robles can’t stop Albert Rusnak’s penalty kick. (Rob Gray/USA TODAY Sports)
SANDY, Utah — The Red Bulls’ undefeated streak is over.
New York began the year with a 4-0-1 mark in Major League Soccer and CONCACAF Champions League play, but that came to a crashing halt with a 1-0 defeat at Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday night.
After getting drubbed by expansion LA Football Club in its home opener, 5-1, last week, RSL and its head coach, former RBNY head man Mike Petke, needed this win much more than the Red Bulls.
Four minutes after the opening kickoff, Albert Rusnak converted a penalty kick past goalkeeper Luis Robles after Red Bulls forward Carlos Rivas ill advisedly took down David Horst in the penalty area.
Veteran goalkeeper Nick Rimando held the visitors at bay with several big stops, including parrying away a point-blank header by center back Tim Parker in the second half.
The Red Bulls, who smashed the Portland Timbers, 4-0, in their MLS season opener last week, came back down to earth.
They are still undefeated in the CCL at 3-0-1.
The Red Bulls will return to action against Minnesota United SC next Saturday night.
The Red Bulls deployed their sixth Starting XI in the match. Sean Davis and Kemar Lawrence were left home after taking knocks in training earlier in the week.
Second-half substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips was held without a point as his five-match point streak was snapped.
