SANDY, Utah (Saturday, March 11, 2023) – Real Salt Lake (1-2-0, 3 points) suffered a 2-1 loss to Austin FC in the team’s Home Opener at America First Field. Defender **Justen Glad** notched his second goal of the year, but it was not enough to overcome the visiting side.
The visitors took an early lead in the ninth minute when Jon Gallagher bent his shot into the top-right corner of the goal. However, RSL responded in the 22nd minute when **Andrew Brody** sent a cross to **Damir Kreilach** whose header found Glad's sliding leg for his second goal of the season. The Claret-and-Cobalt nearly took the lead in the 27th minute when **Rubio Rubin**’s low cross found **Jefferson Savarino**, but the Venezuelan’s shot was deflected away by an Austin FC defender.
Austin FC regained the lead in the 33rd minute when Daniel Pereira slotted the ball to Owen Wolff who rocketed a right-footed shot from outside the 18-yard box and into the bottom left corner. With the halftime break quickly approaching Real Salt Lake was nearly reduced to 10 men after the referee showed Kreilach a straight red, but upon Video Assisted Review the call was reduced to a yellow card. Shortly after the first half whistle blew with Austin FC taking the 2-1 lead into halftime.
Coming out of the break, Colombian U-22 Initiative winger **Andres Gomez** came close to scoring his first goal for Real Salt Lake when he took a shot from deep in the 48th minute, but he had his attempt turned away by the goalkeeper. “Los Verdes” looked to have scored their third goal of the night in the 53rd minute, but the goal was disallowed after a player was judged to be offside.
**Zac MacMath** held strong, turning away an open opportunity just outside the six-yard box in the 72nd minute. RSL appeared to have found the equalizer two minutes later, but **Anderson Julio** was ruled offside and the goal waved off.
Despite pushing for the equalizing goal in the remaining 15 minutes, Real Salt Lake was unable to secure the second goal of the night, finishing with a 2-1 loss to Austin FC.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake returns to America First Field on Saturday, March 25 to face first-year expansion side St. Louis City SC at 7:30 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:
ATX: Jon Gallagher 9th minute: Gallagher cut through the defense and fired a shot just outside the 18-yard box, finding the top right corner of the goal.
RSL: Justen Glad (Damir Kreilach, Andrew Brody) 22nd minute: Brody launched a cross towards the back post where Kreilach headed it down into the path of Glad who powered a right-footed shot into the goal.
ATX: Owen Wolff (Daniel Pereira) 33rd minute: Pereira sent the ball ahead to Wolff who sprinted goalwards before launching a rocket into the bottom left corner of the goal.
NOTES:
- Midfielder Jasper Löffelsend returns to the roster after serving a one-game suspension last week.
- Colombian U-22 Initiative winger Andres Gomez made his first start for the Club.
- The 2-1 loss was just the second-ever loss for Real Salt Lake in Home Openers, with the only other loss coming in 2018 against LAFC, for a 8-2-9 record.
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Zac MacMath; Andrew Brody, Justen Glad (Erik Holt 82’), Marcelo Silva, Bryan Oviedo; Andres Gomez (Justin Meram 68’), Jasper Löffelsend (Diego Luna 76’), Braian Ojeda, Jefferson Savarino; Damir Kreilach, Rubio Rubin (Anderson Julio 68’)
Subs not used: Gavin Beavers, Danny Musovski, Maikel Chang, Scott Caldwell, Delentz Pierre
Austin FC (4-5-1): Brad Stuver; Zan Kolmanic (Adam Lundkvist 61’), Leo Väisänen, Alexander Ring, Jon Gallagher; Daniel Pereira, Owen Wolf, Sebastian Driussi; Emiliano Rigoni (Diego Fagundez 71’), Gyasi Zardes (Maximiliano Urruti 82’), Ethan Finlay (Nick Lima 71’)
Subs not used: Matt Bersano, Hector Jimenez, Will Bruin, Jhojan Valencia, Rodney Redes
Stats Summary: RSL/ ATXShots: 17/11
Shots on goal: 6/5
Saves: 3/5
Corner Kicks: 8/3
Fouls: 5/9
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Damir Kreilach (caution) 41’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Assistant Referees: Chris Elliott, Kevin Lock
4th Official: Adam Garner
VAR: Carol Anne Chenard
