Real Salt Lake 1 vs. LA Galaxy 2
March 18, 2017; Sandy, Utah; Rio Tinto Stadium
Real Salt Lake (0-2-1, 1 point); LA Galaxy (1-2-0, 3 points)
Man of the Match: Yura Movsisyan scored Real Salt Lake’s first goal of the season in the 18th minute, smacking a header off a well-placed ball from Albert Rusnák to beat LA goalkeeper Clement Diop. It was Movsisyan’s 25th career regular season goal in an RSL uniform, moving him into a tie for sixth on the club’s all-time list with Kyle Beckerman. For a club in need of goals to turn around a slow start to the season, that was an encouraging sign from Movsisyan, as was the wide play of young wingers Sebastian Saucedo and Brooks Lennon in their first starts of the season.
Telling Stat: Emmanuel Boateng has five career goals in MLS and playoff action. All five have come against Real Salt Lake, including the game-winner on Saturday night. His speed is dangerous, but for whatever reason it has only produced goals against RSL.
What You Missed: Nick Rimando made a remarkable save in the 73rd minute to deny Jermaine Jones a potential go-ahead goal, diving to his left to paw away a header that looked destined for the net. After the play, the two U.S. National Team cohorts had a playful exchange as Jones gave proper credit to Rimando.
So What: RSL will now be without Beckerman when the Claret-and-Cobalt travel across the country to face the New York Red Bulls next week after he picked up two first-half yellow cards to draw an ejection. In addition to the captain, RSL will also miss Rimando and Rusnák, who will both be with their national teams in World Cup qualifiers. What already stood be a stiff test against the Red Bulls just got a bit more challenging.
