Real Salt Lake 2 vs 3 Los Angeles Galaxy
_May 31, 2023; America First Field; Sandy, Utah
_Real Salt Lake (4-7-4, 16 points); LA Galaxy (3-9-3, 12 points)
Man of the Match: **Danny Musovski** scored his fourth goal in nine games across all competitions in the 3-2 loss to the Galaxy. The goal ended a 320-minute scoreless drought for RSL at America First Field. Apart from the goal, Musovski created a handful of other chances on net both for himself and his teammates and looked sharp in the 80 minutes he was on the pitch.
Telling Stats: RSL now moves to 10-6-8 all-time against the Galaxy at home, losing to LA for the first time in Sandy since 2019. It is the first loss in either MLS or Open Cup play since losing 3-0 to LAFC on May 13. Coming into the match the Galaxy had been held scoreless with a -6 goal differential in their last three league matches, snapping the streak with the 3-2 win against RSL. The Claret-and-Cobalt still lead the Galaxy in goals 46-34 through 19 seasons.
What You Missed: Real Salt Lake flashed some fancy combination play in the 15th minute, with captain **Damir Kreilach** connecting with **Andrés Gómez** who one-touch passed it to **Danny Musovski**, but the shot was deflected en route to the goal. Gómez found himself alone on goal in the 29th, but his shot from a tight angle was blocked by the Los Angeles goalkeeper. Despite RSL controlling the run of play and a majority of the scoring opportunities in the first half, it was the visitors who scored first when a handball was called on Kreilach inside the box and Gastón Brugman buried the penalty kick in stoppage time. RSL answered back six minutes into the second half when Musovski beat keeper Jonathan Bond to a corner kick from **Jefferson Savarino**, heading the ball into the open net. With the foot on the gas RSL continued to press the LA backline, breaking through again in the 67th min when **Pablo Ruiz** curled in a freekick into the right side-netting to take the lead. The Galaxy responded almost immediately in the 72nd with their second goal of the evening as Memo Rodriguez whipped in a shot from outside the eighteen-yard-box to beat home-debutant **Gavin Beavers**. Just a minute later the visitors went ahead when Calegari found Tyler Boyd inside the six to slot it in. The one-goal deficit proved to be too much for RSL to come back from as the match finished 3-2 in favor of the Galaxy.
What’s Next?: RSL heads south to the Lone Star State to take on Austin FC this Saturday, June June 3 at 6:30 p.m. MT. The squad will return to America First Field next Wednesday, June 7 for a rematch against the LA Galaxy in the Quarterfinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. MT.
