While most eyes were inevitably turned toward the Super Bowl,
Viking’s Niklas Sandberg opened the scoring in the 9th minute, capitalizing on some poor defending from Real Salt Lake and some wide open space behind the right back, unsigned college player Pierre Reedy. Reedy did well to steer play back out wide, but the defense collapsed into a chaotic jumble, with a potential penalty uncalled as Viking finished nicely.
It was an opening goal very much in the run of play, with RSL looking second-best throughout the first half, with RSL goalkeeper David Ochoa forced into some top-notch saves.