Atlanta United lost 1-2 to Real Salt Lake in an uninspiring and lethargic performance Friday at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Atlanta manager Frank de Boer elected to rest two key starters in Pity Martinez and Franco Escobar in the match, but the fresh legs of Dion Pereira and the solidity of a three-man central midfield of Jeff Larentowicz, Darlington Nagbe and Eric Remedi was not enough to give the team a spark.
Josef Martinez did score a goal in the second half that looked like it was going to give Atlanta a share of the spoils, but a banger by Jefferson Savarino at the death saved the game for RSL.