MLS rivals Sporting Kansas City and Real Salt Lake scrapped to a scoreless draw on Saturday at Kino North Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. Both sides opened their Visit Tucson Sun Cup campaign in a match characterized by strong defensive displays and few clearcut scoring chances, although Sporting enjoyed the lion's share of possession over the course of 90 minutes.
The first fleeting opportunity fell to Real Salt Lake when 21st-year MLS veteran Kyle Beckerman headed high off a corner kick within the first 10 minutes. At the opposite end, RSL center back Nedum Onuoha intervened twice before halftime to break up Sporting attacks involving Mexican striker Alan Pulido, fellow newcomer Gadi Kinda and Portuguese left back Luis Martins.