TEMPE, Ariz. -- Phoenix FC ended a four-match losing streak by earning a 0-0 draw with Real Salt Lake's reserve side Saturday night at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium.
Phoenix FC outshot RSL 5-2 and played solid defensively, an area in which the club sought improvement amid its recent skid. Goalkeeper Andrew Weber recorded his second shutout of the season and first since the home opener against VSI Tampa Bay FC.
Midfielder Scott Morrison had a good chance to give Phoenix FC a first-half lead with a free kick in the 33rd minute, but it didn't bend quite enough to find the net. Real Salt Lake cranked up its attack in the second half, but Phoenix FC was the stronger side over the latter part of the half and held on for the draw.
Defender Isaiah Schafer, forward Darren Mackie and midfielder Donny Toia, playing against the MLS club that developed him, played well for the Wolves. Toia, on a sore right leg that he later said was fine, made a hustle play to save a ball from going out of bounds in the 84th minute that earned him a loud cheer from the 2,386 fans in attendance.
The crowd was the second-largest of Phoenix FC's inaugural season, with only the home opener drawing more fans.
Real Salt Lake's side featured a number of key players from the main roster with Major League Soccer experience, including defender Lovel Palmer, former USL Pro MVP Yordany Alvarez, defender Carlos Salcedo and rising star forward Devon Sandoval. The two teams also played to 0-0 draw in a match marred by a fight on April 22 at Rio Tinto Stadium, but aside from a few yellow cards, there were no issues in this meeting.
Phoenix FC improved to 2-9-4 on the season and will next seek its first win across all competitions since April 28, although it has earned a point from three draws in those seven weeks. The Wolves host the Dayton Dutch Lions on June 21, with seven of their final 11 USL Pro matches coming up at home in the Arizona heat.
"It's a good way to go into the next game," Schafer said.
