SANDY, Utah (Saturday, June 24, 2023) – Real Salt Lake (7-7-6, 27 points, 6th West) overcame a first-half, two-goal deficit behind a goal from Danny Musovski and a sensational 98+ stoppage-time equalizer from RSL Homegrown Justen Glad to secure the 2-2 draw at America First Field. The draw extends RSL's unbeaten run to six games in Major League Soccer, while also giving the team a 10-3-6 record, across all competitions, through 19 games in 75 days.
Looking to earn its third victory in eight days for the first time in a decade, Real Salt Lake began the match on the front foot, pressing Minnesota’s backline. It seemed as if RSL would finally have a chance to break the stalemate in the 16th minute when Homegrown Bode Hidalgo was pulled down inside the 18-yard-box, but upon video assisted review, the penalty call was reversed.
It would be Minnesota who scored first in the 27th minute, when Zac MacMath’s save off a cross from Emmanuel Reynoso left the ball at the feet of Hassani Dotson atop the six, placing his shot into the upper right corner for the 1-0 lead. Minnesota doubled its lead just past 10 minutes later, when an unmarked Reynoso ran onto the end of a cross from Jeong Sang-Bin for an easy tap-in and the 2-0 lead. RSL was unable to pull one back before the end of the half, entering the break down two goals.
Coming out of halftime, RSL nearly found its first of the match when Anderson Julio found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but Clint Irwin was able to make the save. Less than two minutes later, Pablo Ruiz curled in a shot from 25-yards out with his magical left foot to cut the deficit in half. But video assisted review intervened once again, determining that Anderson Julio’s offside position obstructed the goalkeeper’s view. In the 65th minute, Glad looked to have found the back of the net, but his shot was pushed off the crossbar.
Real Salt Lake continued to press for goal in the remaining 25 minutes, but Minnesota seemed content to sit back and flood the 18-yard-box with defensive numbers, challenging the Claret-and-Cobalt’s efforts. In the 79th minute, Musovski was able to finally find the back of the net for RSL, outpacing the defense to run onto a long pass from Ruiz and slipping his shot underneath the goalkeeper. In stoppage time, Diego Luna almost had the equalizer, but his right-footed shot skipped just wide of the bottom left corner.
When it seemed as if the match was all but over, Glad came out of nowhere to hit a remarkable volley past the goalkeeper to level the match at the death. Minnesota attempted to clear the ball out of a dangerous area, but midfielder Braian Ojeda was there to intercept, hitting a long switch to Luna on the wings. Luna one-touched a bouncing cross to Glad, who opened his hips and slammed the ball with a first-time strike to equalize, giving the team a dramatic point at home and the 2-2 draw.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake will head to Canada to take on Eastern Conference foe Toronto FC on July 1, with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m. MT from BMO Field. The team will then return to America First Field to host Orlando City SC on Saturday, July 8, in what is expected to be new Designated Player Cristian ‘Chicho’ Arango’s debut game for RSL.
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:
MIN: Hassani Dotson 27th minute: After Zac MacMath’s save on a cross from Emmanuel Reynoso fell at the feet of Dotson, the midfielder placed his shot into the upper right corner.
MIN: Emmanuel Reynoso (Jeong Sang-Bin, DJ Taylor) 39th minute: Sang-Bin sent a cross over the top of ZacMacMath to a wide open Reynoso, who was able to slot in his opportunity.
RSL: Danny Musovski (Pablo Ruiz) 79th minute: Ruiz received the ball and hit a long forward pass to Musovski, who outpaced the defense to go one-on-one with Clint Irwin, putting his shot underneath the arm of the diving ‘keeper.
RSL: Justen Glad (Diego Luna, Braian Ojeda) 90+8th minute: Ojeda recovered a clearance attempt from Minnesota, hitting a long switch to Luna who one-touched a bouncing cross towards Glad. With a first-time volley, Glad slammed his shot into the far post.
NOTES:
- Real Salt Lake was without FW Rubio Rubin, who was away on international duty with Guatemala, competing in the Gold Cup.
- Glad’s goal came on the same night the accomplished Homegrown was honored pregame for his 200th regular-season appearance, which came last Saturday in the win at D.C. United.
- Danny Musovski’s goal tonight increased his recent scoring run to six goals and four assists across all competitions in the last 14 games.
- RSL welcomed back three players - MF Braian Ojeda (Paraguay), FW Anderson Julio (Ecuador) and FW Jefferson Savarino (Venezuela) - from international duty, which caused the trio to miss road wins earlier in the week at D.C. United and at St. Louis.
- The home draw prevented RSL from completing a nine-point / eight-day run for the first time since 2013; however the seven-point week matched the late-May run in Colorado, which also concluded with a draw against Minnesota.
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Zac MacMath; Bode Hidalgo (Andrew Brody 67’), Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Bryan Ovideo; Maikel Chang (Danny Musovski 46’), Braian Ojeda, Pablo Ruiz, Diego Luna; Andres Gomez (Jefferson Savarino 46’), Anderson Julio (Damir Kreilach 67’)
Subs not used: Gavin Beavers, Brayan Vera, Jasper Löffelsend, Emeka Eneli, Ilijah Paul
Minnesota United (4-2-3-1): Clint Irwin; Zarek Valentin, Miguel Tapias, Michael Boxall; Emanuel Reynoso (Bakaye Dibassy 90’), Will Trapp, DJ Taylor, Hassani Dotson (Kervin Arriaga 80’), Jeong Sang-Bin (Brent Kallman 80’); Bongokuhle Hlongwane, Mender Garcia (Cameron Dubar 67I ’)
Subs not used: Eric Dick, Devin Padelford, Fred Emmings
Stats Summary: RSL / MIN
Shots: 27 / 8
Shots on Goal: 6 / 4
Saves: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 7 / 3
Fouls: 8 / 8
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Marceloa Silva (caution) 58’
MIN: Clint Irwin (caution) 90+2’
