RSL Vanquishes Vancouver

SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, July 7, 2021) – Real Salt Lake (4-3-4, 16 points) claimed an emphatic 4-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday night in front of 12,009 fans in a match that was played as an away contest for RSL. 

Damir Kreilach increased his team-leading goal tally to seven with a brace, while Albert Rusnák and Anderson Julio both adding goals in the win. David Ochoa made two saves to secure the shutout.

Postgame Quotes from RSL vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Postgame Press Conferences with Freddy Juarez, Albert Rusnák and Damir Kreilach can be found here.

RSL opened the scoring in just the first minute when Aaron Herrera sprung Kreilach into the box where his one-touch finish looped over the goalkeeper and into the net to mark the third-fastest goal in RSL history at 43 seconds. RSL then pressured the Vancouver goal in an effort to double its lead throughout the half, but each effort was thwarted by the ‘Caps backline. Ochoa made several key saves and collections inside the box in the first half to help RSL head into the locker room with the 1-0 halftime lead.

RSL began the second half much like the first and doubled its lead in the 57th minute through Kreilach who nodded home a cross from Justin Meram for the 2-0 advantage. Just four minutes later in the 61st minute, Albert Rusnák rattled the bar on a follow-up effort from inside the six-yard box. From there the match was a lopsided affair as RSL threw everything it had at Vancouver and were rewarded again in the 74th minute when Meram drew a penalty near the edge of the area that Rusnák struck firmly into the bottom corner of the net.

Multiple opportunities for RSL followed the penalty as the Club found its fourth through Julio who collected a loose ball inside the area before volleying the ball home to solidify the 4-0 win.

UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake will now travel to face LAFC for the second time in a 10-day span. Kickoff from Banc of California Stadium is at 8:00 p.m. MT. 

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

RSL: Damir Kreialch (Aaron Herrera) 1st minute: A quick start from RSL saw Herrera spring a long ball towards the center of the box from a wide position. The ball skipped off the turf once before Kreilach’s touch to push the ball over the goalkeeper and off the post for the 1-0 lead.

RSL: Damir Kreilach (Justin Meram), 57th minute: From a corner kick, the ball was headed away by Vancouver before it found its way back to RSL in a wide position with Meram who had space out wide to cross. Meram swung in a cross that Kreilach nodded towards the back post and into the back of the net.

RSL: Albert Rusnák (Penalty), 74th minute: Following Justin Meram earning a penalty following a foul near the edge of the penalty area, Rusnák calmly stepped to the spot to dispatch the shot, giving RSL the 3-0 lead.

RSL: Anderson Julio, 90’+4th minute: Breaking towards goal, Damir Kreilach elected to take a left-footed shot that caromed off of a defender before bouncing to Julio inside the area. Julio collected the ball a fired a right-footed volley into the far side-netting to make it 4-0.

NOTES:

- RSL scored the third fastest goal in its history as Damir Kreilach netted the game’s opening goal just 43 seconds into the match. Javier Morales scored the fastest goal in club history at 15 seconds in 2014 at Houston. Corey Baird scored the fastest goal in Rio Tinto Stadium history – second overall –marked at 35 seconds against Houston in 2019. 

- Although the match was played at Rio Tinto Stadium, Vancouver played as the home team. The Whitecaps have made Sandy, Utah home for the start of the 2021 season as the club continues to navigate border restrictions between the U.S. and Canada amidst the global pandemic.

- Bobby Wood made his first start for Real Salt Lake and first MLS start after making three appearances off the bench in RSL’s last three matches.

- Defender Toni Datković arrived in Utah and undergoing quarantine. He is expected to be available to train ahead of RSL’s July 17 match against LAFC.

- Winger Jonathan Menéndez was not available as he awaits his immigration to the U.S.

- Defender Zack Farnsworth 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.

- Defender Andrew Brody was unavailable as an injury precaution.

- Real Salt Lake had four RSL Academy products in the XI and five on the 20-man roster. Additionally, four players on the 20-man roster were previously signed to the Monarchs.

Match: Real Salt Lake at Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Date: July 7, 2021
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Weather: Sunny and 90 Degrees
Attendance: 12,009Scoring Summary:1             2             F

Real Salt Lake                           1             3             4
Whitecaps FC                           0             0             0RSL: Damir Kreialch (Aaron Herrera) 1’
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Justin Meram, Donny Toia), 57’
RSL: Albert Rusnák (Penalty), 75’
RSL: Anderson Julio 90’+4**

Lineups:*
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): David Ochoa; Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Donny Toia; Everton Luiz (Justin Portillo 78’), Pablo Ruiz (Nick Besler 58’); Justin Meram (Anderson Julio 78’), Damir Kreilach, Albert Rusnak (Maikel Chang 84’); Bobby Wood (Rubio Rubin 58’*
Subs not used: **Zac MacMath, Andrew Putna, Ashtone Morgan, Erik Holt

Vancouver Whitecaps FC (4-4-2): Thomas Hasal; Cristian Gutierrez (Jake Nerwinski 65’), Andy Rose, Erik Godoy, Javain Brown; Déiber Caicedo, Caio Alexandre (Leonard Owusu 79’), Janio Bikel, Russell Teibert (Ryan Raposo 65’); Cristian Dajome, Brian White (Theo Bair 79’)*
Subs not used: *Evan Newton, Ranko Veselinovic, Gianfranco Facchineri, Patrick Metcalfe, Kamron Habibullah

Stats Summary: VAN / RSL
Shots: 10 / 18
Shots on Goal: 2 / 8
Saves: 4 / 2
Corner Kicks: 5 / 4
Fouls: 7 / 9

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Pablo Ruiz (caution) 24’
RSL: Donny Toia (caution) 81’

OFFICIALS:
Referee: Alex Chilowicz
Assistant Referees: Cameron Balnchard, Edurado Jeff
4th Official: Kevin Broadley
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
AVAR: Gjovalin Bori