SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, June 22, 2016) – Real Salt Lake needed some late heroics, but an 87th minute goal from MF Jordan Allen gave the Claret-and-Cobalt its fourth comeback win of the season, this time over the New York Red Bulls at Rio Tinto Stadium.
New York took an early first-half lead, but goals from FW Yura Movsisyan and Allen powered RSL to its fifth home win of the season. The 2-1 victory improved Salt Lake to 8-4-3 on the season, just one point behind FC Dallas, Saturday’s opponent in Frisco, Texas, for second in the Western Conference. GK Nick Rimando finished the night with two saves to earn the win, the 178th in his MLS career, putting him just two behind Kevin Hartman for the top spot on the all-time list.
RSL fell behind early when Gideon Baah knocked a header just out of the reach of Rimando in the seventh minute. Sean Davis sent a corner in from the left side and Baah got to it through the mark of Movsisyan and Baah’s header crept just inside the far post for the 1-0 advantage.
In a physical match, that would be the only good scoring chance of the first half, as the teams went into halftime with four shots each, while the Red Bulls put two shots on goal and RSL had none.
RSL would get its first shot on goal in the 65th minute and Movsisyan made it count.
Salt Lake had New York on its heels in the early part of the second half and in the 65th minute, MF John Stertzer whipped a ball in from the right side. Movsisyan got in behind Aurelien Collin and rose up to crack the header inside the post for his sixth goal of the season and fourth in as many consecutive starts, evening the tally at 1-1.
Salt Lake would continue to vie for the winner and it finally came in the 87th minute.
After a set play opportunity was cleared by New York, RSL recycled for a second effort. Allen played DF Demar Phillips up the left side, but his cross went all the way through the box where DF Tony Beltran recovered it. He crossed the ball along the inside edge of the 18 where Allen and FW Olmes Garcia converged. Allen had the better angle and got the shot away, glancing it off of Chris Duvall and into the net for his third goal of the season to make it 2-1.
Both teams continued to battle to the final whistle and RSL would finish with the 2-1 victory, improving to 5-0-1 at home this season.
Real Salt Lake continues its stretch of six matches in 18 days with the lone road contest in that stretch Saturday against FC Dallas. It is the first of two meetings this season between the Western Conference foes.
GAME NOTES – RSLvNYR
- RSL MF Kyle Beckerman was out of the lineup for the fourth straight game while with the U.S. National Team at Copa America Centenario. The U.S. will play in the third place game on Saturday.
- Play stopped for nearly five minutes in the first half after an RSL free kick when RSL MF Sunday Stephen went down in a collision in the box. He was tended to by Salt Lake’s medical staff, taken off on a stretcher and treated for possible facial fractures.
- MF John Stertzer notched his first career assist for RSL, making an impact in coming off the bench to replace Stephen.
REAL SALT LAKE 2-1 NEW YORK RED BULLS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016
RIO TINTO STADIUM
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 2 2
New York Red Bulls 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
NYR: Gideon Baah (Sean Davis) 7’
RSL: Yura Movsisyan (John Stertzer) 65’
RSL: Jordan Allen (Tony Beltran) 88’
Misconduct Summary:
NYR: Loyd Sam (Caution; Foul) 6’
NYR: Aurelien Collin (Caution; Foul) 8’
RSL: Javier Morales (Caution; Foul) 45’
NYR: Sean Davis (Caution; Foul) 90’
NYR: Aurelien Collin (Ejection; Violent Conduct) 90’
RSL: Yura Movsisyan (Caution; Dissent) 92+’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, Justen Glad, Aaron Maund, Demar Phillips; Sunday Stephen (John Stertzer 14’), Luke Mulholland (Jordan Allen 60’); Juan Manuel Martinez (Olmes Garcia 84’), Javier Morales, Joao Plata; Yura Movsisyan.
Substitutes not used: Jeff Attinella, Jamison Olave, Devon Sandoval, Chris Wingert.
New York Red Bulls (4-2-3-1): Luis Robles; Sal Zizzo, Aurelien Collin, Gideon Baah, Justin Bilyeu; Felipe, Sean Davis; Alex Muyl (Sacha Kljestan 77’), Loyd Sam, Gonzlao Veron (Chris Duvall 63’); Anatole Abang (Bradley Wright-Phillips 67’).
Substitutes not used: Kyle Reynish, Dax McCarty, Derrick Etienne, Conor Lade.
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistant Referees: Mike Rottersman, Cameron Blanchard
Fourth Official: Allen Chapman
Attendance: 18,036
Weather: Clear and 96
