SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, September 14, 2022) – Real Salt Lake (11-10-10, 43 points) suffered a 3-0 loss at Austin FC in the Club’s second-to-last road match of the season.
With only four games remaining in the regular season and Real Salt Lake currently in the last remaining playoff position, the team’s midweek matchup against Austin FC put the pressure on the Claret-and-Cobalt to come into the fortress that is Q2 stadium and earn a result. The home side came out aggressively, hitting the crossbar in the fifth minute, but after that chance the tides began to turn and RSL gained offensive momentum.
In the 20th minute Diego Luna and Andrew Brody put back-to-back chances on target, but saves from goalkeeper Brad Stuver kept them out of the back of the net. Eight minute later Rubio Rubin broke away towards goal, but his shot skipped wide-left of goal. Despite having the majority of possession and chances, RSL was unable to put one into the back of the net. However, on the defensive end Real Salt Lake prevented Austin, one of the highest scoring teams in the league, to zero shots on target, leaving the two sides scored at 0-0 heading into the halftime break.
Real Salt Lake continued to press towards goal coming out of the halftime break, with Luna nearly finding the opening goal in the 53rd minute, but a late slide from the last defender sent it out for a corner kick. After Austin FC Head Coach Josh Wolff implemented an attacking line change, the substitutions came in an added a different pace, setting up a chance for Moussa Djitte to catch Johan Kappelhof off guard and bury the opening goal of the match in the 60th minute. In the 76th minute Djitte secure the brace, hitting a side-volley off a poorly cleared corner deep into the back of the net. Just minutes later Djitte did it again, finding himself one-on-one with Zac MacMath to earn a hat-trick and solidify the 3-0 victory for Austin FC.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake finishes its three-game week at America First Field where the Club will host FC Cincinnati for Hispanic Heritage Night on Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:
ATX: Moussa Djitte (Diego Fagundez, Julio Cascante) 60th minute: Fagundez sent in a cross to to Djitte who stuck a leg out redirecting the ball into the back of the net.
ATX: Moussa Djitte 76th minute: After the ball bounced off the crossbar and back into the box, Djitte side-volleyed a shot, blasting the ball into the back of the net.
ATX: Moussa Djitte (Ruben Gabrielsen, Diego Fagundez) 80th minute: Gabrielsen sent a cross in towards the Fagundez who dummied the ball to an unmarked Djitte who slipped the ball in underneath MacMath.
NOTES:
- Bobby Wood (abductor) and Damir Kreilach (back) were unavailable due to injury.
- Midfielder Braian Ojeda made his first start for the Claret-and-Cobalt, the 26th player to do so this season under Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs Austin FC
Date: September 14, 2022
Venue: Q2 Stadium; Austin, Texas
Weather: Clear and 80 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 0 0
Austin FC 0 3 3
ATX: Moussa Djitte (Diego Fagundez, Julio Cascante) 60’
ATX: Moussa Djitte 76’
ATX: Moussa Djitte (Ruben Gabrielsen, Diego Fagundez) 80’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (3-5-2): Zac MacMath; Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Johan Kappelhof; Andrew Brody (Jasper Löffelsend 83’), Scott Caldwell, Braian Ojeda (Maikel Chang 83’), Diego Luna (Justin Meram 70’), Bryan Oviedo; Anderson Julio (Danny Musovski 70’), Rubio Rubin (Sergio Cordova 61’)
Subs not used: Tomas Gomez, Pablo Ruiz, Marcelo Silva, Bode Hidalgo
Austin FC (4-3-3): Brad Stuver; Ruben Gabrielsen, Julio Cascante (Jhohan Romana 68’), Zan Kolmanic (Jon Gallagher 58’), Nick Lima; Dani Pereira, Sebastian Drussi, Alex Ring; Diego Fagundez (Owen Wolff 85’), Maxi Urruti (Ethan Finlay, 58’), Emilano Rigoni (Moussa Djitte 58’)
Subs not used: Danny Joesen, Hector Jimenez, Felipe, Andrew Tarbell
Stats Summary: RSL / ATX
Shots: 17 / 14
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 6 / 0
Corner Kicks: 10 / 3
Fouls: 15 / 10
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:None
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Joseph Dickerson
Assistant Referees: Chantal Boudreau, Chris Elliott
4th Official: Victor Rivas
VAR: Jair Marrufo
