Real Salt Lake Falls 2-1 on the Road to LAFC

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Saturday, July 17, 2021) – Real Salt Lake (4-4-4, 16 points) fell 2-1 to Los Angeles FC at Banc of California Stadium. 

Aaron Herrera’s first professional goal and David Ochoa’s first MLS penalty save were not enough to overcome LAFC. 

Postgame Quotes from RSL vs. LAFC.

Postgame Press Conferences from RSL vs. LAFC.

LAFC started on the front foot with several shots on goal before breaking through in the 10th minute when Diego Rossi opened the scoring with a sharp combination with Jose Cifuentes to take the early lead. Several minutes later RSL capitalized on the counterattack with Damir Kreilach finding Everton Luiz in the transition. Luiz slotted a pass through two LAFC defenders to Herrera who took a touch and then slipped around the goalkeeper to equalize. 

In the 60th minute LAFC was awarded a penalty kick, but Ochoa held his line to deny Carlos Vela the goal. LAFC continued to control the pace but RSL managed to keep the score even until LAFC broke the stalemate in the 79th minute with Vela finding redemption to take the upper hand. 

RSL spent the next few minutes looking for the equalizer but were unable to do so as the match ended 2-1 in favor of the home side. 

UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake will return to Rio Tinto Stadium for its second and third matches in eight days, first against LA Galaxy on Wednesday, July 21 at 8:00 p.m. MT and then Rocky Mountain Cup rival, Colorado Rapids, on Saturday, July 24 at 8:00 p.m. MT.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

LAFC: Diego Rossi (Jose Cifuentes), 10th minute: Outside the 18-yard-box Rossi initiated a combination play with a short pass to Cifuentes before cutting through the defenders to receive the ball back and slot his shot into the bottom right of goal.

RSL: Aaron Herrera (Everton Luiz, Damir Kreilach), 18th minute: On the counterattack Albert Rusnak pushed a pass to Damir Kreilach who transitioned the ball to Luiz flying up the left side. Luiz took a few touches then slotted a pass through two defenders to an oncoming Aaron Herrera who beat the goalkeeper with a left-footed shot to equalize.

LAFC: Carlos Vela (Kim Moon-Hwan), 79th minute: Moon-Hwan crossed the ball across the box to Vela who chested it down to get a tight angle on goal and slot it into the back of the net. 

NOTES: 

- Defender Aaron Herrera scored his first professional goal in his 78th regular-season Major League Soccer match. 

- Defender Toni Datković was available off the bench for the first time since signing with RSL in early June. 

- Defender Zack Farnsworth, defender Andrew Brody and forward Jeizon Ramirez were unavailable due to injury. Ramirez has been placed on the injured list with a quad injury and will be eligible to return to action after RSL’s match on July 21 against the LA Galaxy. 

- Real Salt Lake had four RSL Academy products in the XI and five on the 20-man roster.

Match: Real Salt Lake vs. LAFC

Date: July 17, 2021

Venue: Banc of California Stadium; Los Angeles, California

Weather: Sunny and 74 Degrees

Attendance: 22,490

Scoring Summary:          1     2     F 

Real Salt Lake              1     0     0

LAFC                 1     1     2

LAFC: Diego Rossi (Jose Cifuentes), 10’

RSL: Aaron Herrera (Everton Luiz, Damir Kreilach), 18’

LAFC: Carlos Vela (Kim Moon-Hwan), 79’

Lineups:

Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): David Ochoa; Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Donny Toia; Everton Luiz (Maikel Chang, 83’), Pablo Ruiz (Nick Besler, 66’)); Albert Rusnak, Damir Kreilach (Bobby Wood, 66’), Justin Meram (Anderson Julio, 66’); Rubio Rubin

Subs not used: Zac MacMath, Ashtone Morgan, Erik Holt, Toni Datković, Justin Portillo

LAFC (4-3-1-2): Tomas Romero; Eddie Segura, Marco Farfan, Kim Moon-Hwan, Jesus Murillo; Jose Cifuentes, Raheem Edwards (Diego Palacios, 75’), Eduard Atuesta; Latif Blessing (Bryce Duke, 75’); Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi (Corey Baird, 88’)

Subs not used: Pablo Sisienga, Tristan Blackmon, Cal Jennings, Brain Rodriguez, Jordan 

Stats Summary: RSL / LAFC

Shots: 3 / 29

Shots on Goal: 2 / 9

Saves: 8 / 1

Corner Kicks: 6 / 13

Fouls: 15 / 18

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

RSL: Everton Luiz (caution) 45’

RSL: Damir Kreilach (caution) 50’

LAFC: Jesus Murillo (caution) 62’

RSL: Aaron Herrera (caution) 77’

RSL: Nick Besler (caution) 87’

OFFICIALS:

Referee: Robert Sibiga

Assistant Referees: Jason White, Eduardo Mariscal

4th Official: Michael Radchuk

VAR: Hilario Grajeda

AVAR: Fabio Tovar