Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando’s agile, one-handed reaction save on Chivas USA midfielder Miller Bolaños won Save of the Week honors in a landslide vote, marking the second straight week, the third time in the past month and the seventh time this season the veteran netminder has won the award.
They’re not quite at the top of the league standings at the moment, but RSL have been simply dominant when it comes to Save of the Week and Goal of the Week.
Last week Rimando and teammate Javier Morales claimed the prizes, and thanks to strong support for Rimando’s instinctive parry and Álvaro Saborío’s deadly chip against Chivas, the Utah club has swept both competitions yet again.
Never the league’s biggest or most imposing ‘keeper, Rimando has always had a flair for the dramatic and the growth of his steady leadership style has made him a force to be reckoned with in the Real goal for years on end. This week his denial of Bolaños’ wicked half-volley, one of several sterling saves on the night, easily outpaced efforts by Galaxy backstopper Josh Saunders and a goal-line clearance by Chivas USA defender John Valencia.
On Saturday he’s quite likely to be severely tested again as RSL visit the Home Depot Center for a second straight weekend, this time to battle the Galaxy in what promises to be a quality match with major playoff seeding implications.
For complete coverage of the Save of the Week - and an archive of past winners -- click here.
Final Voting Results
1. Nick Rimando (RSL) – 54.49%
2. Josh Saunders (LA) – 15.77%
3. John Valencia (CHV) – 14.5%
4. Bobby Shuttlesworth (NE) – 10.49%
5. Sean Johnson (CHI) – 4.75%
