Real Salt Lake 2 vs. New York City FC 0
May 23, 2015; Rio Tinto Stadium
Records: Real Salt Lake (4-3-5, 17 points). New York City FC (1-7-4, 7 points)
Man of the Match: Quietly Devon Sandoval has put together a great string of three matches for Real Salt Lake. He was active and dangerous throughout the match on Saturday, registering three shots and two shots on goal. However, it was his flick-on header that played John Stertzer in behind the defense that set up the game-winning goal in the 25th minute. Sandoval now has a goal or an assist in each of the last three matches, totaling one goal and two assists.
Telling Stat: 6-1. Although both teams attempted 12 shots in the match, RSL had six shots on goal to just one for NYCFC. It was the third time in the last four games that RSL had managed five or more shots on goal. For a team that averaged just 2.9 shots on goal per game through the first eight matches, it has been a marked improvement as Real continues to make progress on the offensive side of the ball.
What You Missed: The attendance of 20,801 set a new Rio Tinto Stadium record, surpassing the 20,794 that were there for a 2-1 win over Toronto FC back on March 29. With the backdrop of Jason Kreis, Chris Wingert and Co., returning to Utah with NYCFC, the biggest ovations came when Javier Morales and Joao Plata took the field. Both players recovered from injuries and looked sharp for RSL on Saturday with hopes that they can contribute in the next two matches on the road against the LA Galaxy on Wednesday and Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday.
So What: The win moves RSL into a three-way tie for fifth place in the Western Conference with the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes – who play Sunday against Orlando City SC. With two big road matches against the LA Galaxy on Wednesday and Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, it poses a big challenge, but also a great opportunity to make some ground in the ever-competitive West. With just four points separating RSL from conference-leading FC Dallas, the shape of the West could be altered by the end of the week.
