SANDY, Utah (Saturday, July 3, 2021) – Real Salt Lake (3-3-4, 13 points) dropped a narrow 1-0 defeat to LAFC on Saturday night in the club’s return to full capacity at Rio Tinto Stadium. With 18,253 fans in attendance, it was the highest-attended RSL match since the club’s 2020 home opener on March 7, 2020.
Postgame Press Conference with Freddy Juarez can be found here.
Postgame Press Conference with Albert Rusnák can be found here.
Postgame Press Conference with Nick Besler can be found here.
RSL held advantages in possession (57.9%), shots (14-9) and shots on goal (4-1), but LA scored on its lone shot on goal to snap RSL’s home unbeaten streak at four matches.
In the 19th minute, LAFC striker Carlos Vela’s left-footed effort from a direct freekick near the corner of the box beat the defensive wall but couldn’t beat the frame of the goal as his curling effort struck the crossbar. From then, RSL controlled the possession battle and created opportunities to score that never materialized as the teams went into the halftime break scoreless.
In the second half, Maikel Chang nearly found the game’s opening goal in the 64th minute when his first-time shot from inside the penalty area was saved well by goalkeeper Tomas Romero to keep the score at 0-0. LAFC broke the deadlock in the 70th minute when Jose Cifuentes smashed a shot home from inside the penalty area.
RSL was then forced to chase the game to find the equalizer that never came despite multiple chances inside the penalty area as the game ended 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake will “travel” to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday, July 7. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. MT from Rio Tinto Stadium. The match will be classified as an away match for RSL.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
LAFC: Jose Cifuentes (Eddie Segura, Carlos Vela) 70th minute - Collecting the ball near the outside edge of the penalty area, Segura crossed the low ball back towards the center of the box where Cifuentes hammered home the game’s opening goal.
NOTES:
- With his assist last week, Albert Rusnak became the fourth player in club history to record 30 goals and 30 assists in their RSL careers, joining Kyle Beckerman (30 G, 39 A), Javier Morales (49 G, 81 A) and Joao Plata (46 G, 43 A).
- Defender Toni Datković and winger Jonathan Menéndez were not available as they await their immigration to the U.S.
- Defender Zack Farnsworth, goalkeeper Andrew Putna and forward Jeizon Ramirez were unavailable due to injury. Ramirez has been placed on the injured list with a quad injury and will be eligible to return to action after RSL’s match on July 21 against the LA Galaxy.
- Real Salt Lake had four RSL Academy products in the XI and six on the 20-man roster. Additionally, three starters and four players on the 20-man roster were previously signed to the Monarchs.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs. LAFC
Date: July 3, 2021
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Weather: Sunny and 86 Degrees
Attendance: 18,253
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 0 0
LAFC 0 1 1
LAFC: Jose Cifuentes (Eddie Segura, Carlos Vela) 70’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): David Ochoa; Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Andrew Brody; Nick Besler (Bobby Wood 73’), Pablo Ruiz; Albert Rusnak, Damir Kreilach, Maikel Chang (Justin Meram 73’); Rubio Rubin.
Subs not used: Zac MacMath, Donny Toia, Ashtone Morgan, Erik Holt, Justin Portillo, Everton Luiz, Anderson Julio
LAFC (4-3-3): Tomas Romero; Eddie Segura, Marco farfan, Moonhwan Kim, Jesus Murillo; Latif Blessing, Mark-Anthony Kaye (Jose Cifuentes 67’), Eduard Atuesta; Diego Rossi (Cal Jennings 90’+6), Carlos Vela, Corey Baird (Raheem Edwards 67’)
Subs not used: Pablo Sisienga, Jordan Harvey, Mamadou Fall, Alvaro Quezada, Francisco Ginella, Bryce Duke
Stats Summary: RSL / LAFC
Shots: 14 / 9
Shots on Goal: 4 / 1
Saves: 0 / 3
Corner Kicks: 7 / 4
Fouls: 9 / 14
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Andrew Brody (caution) 17’
LAFC: Corey Baird (caution) 61’
RSL: Damir Kreilach (caution) 75’
RSL: Justen Glad (caution) 83’
LAFC: Diego Rossi (caution) 90’+6
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Assistant Referees: Chris Elliott, TJ Zablocki
4th Official: Kevin Broadley
VAR: Alejandro Mariscal
AVAR: Jefferey Swartzel
