SANDY, Utah (Saturday, April 22, 2023) – Real Salt Lake (3-5-0, 9 points, 9th West) secured a dominant 3-1 victory over San Jose Earthquakes courtesy of three scintillating goals from **Jasper** **Löffelsend**, **Jefferson** **Savarino** and **Andres** **Gomez**.
Wearing their teal “For the Planet” kits, Real Salt Lake looked to secure its fifth-consecutive unbeaten result while wearing Major League Soccer’s annual “Earth Day” adidas jerseys. The team was quick to threaten San Jose’s defense, putting two shots on target early on, first from Anderson Julio shortly followed by a shot from **Bode Hidalgo**, but the ‘Quakes goalkeeper was able to avoid concession.
However, after establishing early danger and dominance, Julio went down with an injury and the RSL was forced to make an early change, inserting forward Danny Musovski in the 25th minute. Despite the early substitution, Musovski was quick to make an impact, assisting **Jasper Löffelsend**’s 39th-minute goal to help give RSL the 1-0 lead - the first time in eight games this season that RSL struck first. Several moments later, Musovski looked primed to net one of his own when he found himself with a breakaway, but a lingering defender was able to step in front, stripping him of the ball. RSL - despite having to make another first-half injury substitution when defender **Brayan Vera** was forced to make way for Bryan Oviedo - would go on to take its first halftime lead of the season.
The Earthquakes quickly equalized coming out of the halftime break, when a curling free kick from Cristian Espinoza deflected off an RSL defender and snuck inside the near post in the 49th minute. Five minutes later, RSL snatched back the lead, when crafty Colombian speedster Gómez drove down the middle of the field before laying off a pass for Savarino on the left side of goal. Savarino took two touches inward before rocketing off a right-footed shot, curving its way inside the post, giving the Venezuelan Designated Player his third goal in as many games, the second-longest streak in RSL annals.
In the 80th minute, Gomez would score one of his own, recording his first-ever MLS/RSL goal by slamming home an Oviedo pass from just outside the 18-yard-box. Savarino was also credited with an assist on Gomez’s goal, giving him his 30th career assist and making him the fifth-ever player and the second-fastest in Club history to reach the vaunted 30 goal / 30 assist threshold, doing so in 108 games (Joao Plata 30 goals and 30 assists in 104 matches).
Real Salt Lake continued to withstand any pressure from San Jose and closed out the match, giving the team its second consecutive 3-1 match at American First Field, earning back-to-back home wins for the first time since May 28/June 18, 2022 - with wins against Houston and San Jose.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake is set to host Seattle Sounders on the 29th at 7:30 p.m. MT. However, the Claret-and-Cobalt will travel South on I-15 to face the USL Las Vegas Lights on Wednesday, April 26 at 8:00 p.m. MT for the team’s first match in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Fans can watch on the KSL+ app, KSLsports.com and listen on KSL Radio.
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:
RSL: Jasper Löffelsend (Danny Musovski**) 39th minute: Löffelsend initiated a give-and-go with Musovski who drove towards goal before laying it back off for the incoming German midfielder. Löffelsend proceeded to one-touch his shot, bouncing the ball off the top crossbar and into the back of the net.
SJ: Cristian Espinoza 49th minute: After being awarded a free kick, Espinzoa curled a shot into the bottom-left corner of the goal.
RSL: Jefferson Savarino (Andrez Gomez) 54th minute: Gomez slipped his defender to find himself isolated driving up the middle of the field where he laid off a pass to Savarino on his left. Savarino took a touch inward before curling a right-footed shot inside the post.
RSL: Andres Gomez (Bryan Oviedo, Jefferson Savarino) 80th minute: Savarino flicked a short pass forward to Oviedo who drove towards the end line where he sent a cross towards Gomez at the top of the 18-yard-box. Gomez received the pass, took one touch and then slammed a shot past the goalkeeper.
NOTES:
- Real Salt Lake were without Zack Farnsworth (ankle), Axel Kei (quad) and Andrew Brody (ankle).
- Jefferson Savarino’s 80th-minute assist, in his 108th appearance, marked his 30th with Real Salt Lake. The Designated Player is the fifth RSL player in Club history to record at least 30 goals and 30 assists and the second-fastest to do so, only bested by Joao Plata who did so in 104 matches.
- As part of the league’s yearly initiative, Real Salt Lake wore teal “For the Planet” kits. Twenty-Five dollars from each kit purchased by RSL fans will go to the Save the Great Salt Lake fund.
- Midfielder Jasper Löffelsend’s 39th-minute goal marked his first of the season and first since July 30, 2022, a 2-2 draw ironically also against San Jose.
- Forward Danny Musovski recorded his first assist as a member of Real Salt Lake and his first in Major League Soccer since June 29, 2022 back when he was a member of LAFC.
- RSL is now 14-2-5 (W-L-T) when scoring first during the 62-game Pablo Mastroeni era
- RSL is undefeated in the MLS/adidas “For the Planet” kits, dating back to 2018
2018: 3-0 win vs COL
2019: 3-0 win vs CIN
2021: 1-1 draw vs MIN
2022: 3-0 win vs HOU
2023: 3-1 win vs SJ
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Zac MacMath; Bode Hidalgo (Emeka Eneli 82’), Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Brayan Vera (Bryan Oviedo 32’); Jasper Löffelsend (Braian Ojeda 82’), Pablo Ruiz, Andres Gomez, Jefferson Savarino; Rubio Rubin (Maikel Chang 82’), Anderson Julio (Danny Musovski 25’)
Subs not used: Tomas Gomez, Diego Luna, Justin Meram, Damir Kreilach
San Jose Earthquakes (4-3-3): JT Marcinowski; Paul Marie (Miguel Trauco 84’), Jonathan Mensah, Rodrigues, Carlos Akapo; Carlos Gruezo (Judson 84’), Jackson Yueill (Ousseni Bouda 84’), Jamiro Monteiro; Cristian Espinoza, Jeremy Ebobisse, Cade Cowell (Benji Kikanovic 65’)
Subs not used: Tanner Beason, Jack Skahan, Tommy Thompson, Daniel De Sousa Brito, Michael Baldisimo
Stats Summary: RSL/SJ
Shots: 13/10
Shots on goal: 6/4
Saves: 2/4
Corner Kicks: 3/1
Fouls: 13/7
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:RSL: Pablo Ruiz (caution) 45’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Filip Dujic
Assistant Referees: Michael Barwegen, Mike Rottersman
4th Official: Ramy Touchan
VAR: Carol Anne Chenard
