SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, May 31, 2023) – Real Salt Lake (4-7-4, 16 points, 11th West) dropped a 3-2 home result to the LA Galaxy at America First Field. Despite second-half goals from **Danny Musovski** and **Pablo Ruiz**, RSL was unable to stop two goals minutes apart from the visiting side.
After capturing seven points in three road matches last week, Real Salt Lake finally returned home looking to snap its month-long scoreless streak at America First Field, dating back to April 22 against San Jose Earthquakes. Throughout the first half, the two sides embarked on a chippy battle within the trenches of the midfield, neither side getting a true dangerous opportunity at goal. RSL found itself knocking on the door in the 40th minute, when **Jefferson Savarino** sent a low pass across the face of goal towards **Andrés Goméz**, but the play was halted as Savarino was determined to be offside.
In the final minute of first-half stoppage time, LA Galaxy was awarded a penalty kick for an apparent handball inside the box, Gaston Brugman stepped up to the spot and put his opportunity away to take the 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
Real Salt Lake made quick work to find the equalizer, with Musovski heading in a corner from Savarino in the 51st minute, his fourth goal in nine matches across all competitions bringing the score level. The goal snapped a 331-minute scoreless run at America First Field and marked Musovski’s third goal contribution in the last four games for Musovski. After finding the back of the net, Musovski found himself with multiple opportunities for a brace, including a rocketed shot in the 59th minute which the Galaxy goalkeeper was able to push out for a corner kick.
In the 62nd minute, midfielder **Braian Ojeda** was inches away from giving RSL the lead, smashing a shot towards the right post, but the ‘keeper was able to push it out with the tips of his fingers. The Claret-and-Cobalt finally took the lead in the 67th minute, after Savarino was taken down just outside the 18-yard-box, Ruiz stepped up and curled a sensational left-footed shot into the near post, slamming it into the back of the net for his third goal of the year.
However, the lead would be short-lived, as the Galaxy found the equalizer five minutes later when Memo Rodriguez tucked his shot into the far post to bring the scoreline level at 2-2. Another two minutes later, Tyler Boyd would score the go-ahead goal for the Galaxy, leaving RSL fighting to climb back into the match for the remaining 15 minutes. Despite best efforts, Real Salt Lake were unable to find the equalizer, dropping the 3-2 result at home.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake travels to Austin FC this Saturday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. MT before the U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal next Wednesday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. as the LA Galaxy return to Sandy, Utah, closing out RSL’s sixth consecutive three-game week on Saturday, June 10 against New York City FC at America First Field.
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:
LA: Gaston Brugman (PK) 45+4th minute: Damir Kreilach was determined to have committed a handball inside the box, Brugman stepped up to the spot and tucked his shot into the right side of goal.
RSL: Danny Musovski (Jefferson Savarino) 51st minute: After being awarded a corner kick, Ruiz sent a cross directly onto the head of Musovski who flicked the ball through the hands of LA’s goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
RSL: Pablo Ruiz 67th minute: From a free kick position outside the 18-yard-box, Ruiz curled a wonder strike into the near post.
LA: Memo Rodriguez (Riqui Puig, Lucas Calegari ) 72nd minute: Puig sent the ball to Rodriguez at the top of the 18-yard-box who tucked his shot into the far post.
LA: Tyler Boyd (Lucas Calegari, Dejan Joveljic) 74th minute: Calegari found an unmarked Boyd inside the eight-yard-box who tapped the ball past the ‘keeper.
NOTES:
- RSL Homegrown defender Justen Glad, who has started every game and played all but 53 minutes thus far this season, was unavailable due to yellow card accumulation.
- With goalkeeper Zac MacMath out due to concussion protocol, 18-year-old Homegrown goalkeeper Gavin Beavers made his first RSL start at America First Field, his second start overall and third appearance in MLS competition.
- With his yellow card in the 83rd minute, midfielder Pablo Ruiz will miss Saturday at Austin FC due to yellow card accumulation.
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Gavin Beavers; Emeka Eneli, Marcelo Silva, Brayan Vera, Andrew Brody; Andrés Goméz (Maikel Chang 80’), Braian Ojeda, Pablo Ruiz, Jefferson Savarino; Danny Musovski (Anderson Julio 80’), Damir Kreilach (Bertin Jacquesson 80’)
Subs not used: Tomas Gomez, Bode Hidalgo, Jasper Löffelsend, Rubio Rubin, Scott Caldwell, Delentz Pierre
LA Galaxy (4-4-2): Jonathan Bond; Lucas Calegari (Eriq Zavaleta 85’), Julian Aude (Raheem Edwards 58’), Martin Caceres, Jalen Neal; Gaston Brugman, Riqui Puig, Efrain Alvarez (Tyler Boyd 46’), Mark Delgado; Dejan Joveljic (Kelvin Leerdam 80’), Gino Vivi (Memo Rodriguez 58’)
Subs not used: Uri Rosell, Preston Judd, Novak Micovic, Daniel Aguirre
Stats Summary: RSL / LAShots: 20 / 10
Shots on Goal: 8 / 4
Saves: 1 / 6
Corner Kicks: 8 / 4
Fouls: 21 / 13
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:RSL: Andrés Goméz (caution) 54’
RSL: Danny Musovski (caution) 57’
RSL: Andrew Brody (caution) 64’
LA: Raheem Edwards (caution) 66’
RSL: Pablo Ruiz (caution) 83’
