Real Salt Lake 1 at Columbus Crew SC 2
June 30, 2018; Columbus, Ohio; MAPFRE Stadium
Real Salt Lake (7-8-2, 23 points); Columbus Crew SC (8-5-6, 30 points)
Man of the Match: Albert Rusnák scored RSL’s only goal and was a consistent threat in the attack throughout the match. He finished with five shots, three shots on goal and two chances created, leading the charge as RSL tried to climb out of an early 2-0 deficit. He now is second on the team with three goals and shares the team lead with four assists.
Telling Stat: Outside of a dubious penalty in the match’s opening minutes, RSL held control of much of the match, holding nearly 60% of the possession and equaling the Crew’s shots on goal total of four, one of which came on the aforementioned penalty. Adjusting to the heat and humidity in Columbus took some time, but once there, the match was there for the taking for RSL. In a game of inches, Salt Lake is marginally closer to turning the corner in road matches and getting more results away from Rio Tinto Stadium.
What You Missed: RSL started the match with Damir Kreilach playing something of a number nine role. Once he started pressing higher up the field, Salt Lake saw much better opportunities in the attack, creating more space for Rusnák to create. Head Coach Mike Petke alluded to wanting to use the lineup change since preseason and circled the Columbus match as an opportunity to see how it looks. Once Corey Baird and Joao Plata entered the fray off the bench, it meant even more attacking options for RSL and it forced Crew SC onto their heels. In his 29 minutes of action on the wing, Plata had one shot and three chances created, including the assist on Rusnák’s goal.
So What: RSL reached the halfway point in the 2018 season in playoff position in fifth place in the Western Conference. Considering some of the inconsistencies – and some could argue that RSL has been ultra-consistent with good results at home (6-1-1) and on the road (1-7-1) – there is good reason for optimism in the second half of the season. Young players have had opportunities to gain experience while some key veterans have struggled with minor injuries that have prevented a good run of games. The second half starts with a pair of difficult home matches against the top two teams in the West with Sporting Kansas City visiting on Wednesday in a Fourth of July clash at Rio Tinto Stadium followed by FC Dallas coming to Utah on Saturday.