Real Salt Lake 1 vs. Minnesota United FC 0
June 17, 2017; Sandy, Utah; Rio Tinto Stadium
Real Salt Lake (5-10-2, 17 points); Minnesota United FC (4-9-2, 14 points)
Man of the Match: In a dynamic attack, Joao Plata had six shots and nine chances created. As a whole, the attack was dangerous throughout the match and Plata was the instigator from the wing. With Jefferson Savarino in the middle and Brooks Lennon coming from the opposite wing and Luis Silva at the point of the attack, Minnesota had no answer.
Telling Stat: Real Salt Lake had 29 shots in the match and nine shots on goal. If not for a stellar performance from Minnesota goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth, the game easily could have gotten out of hand in RSL’s favor. The deciding goal finally came on a scramble in the box with Yura Movsisyan knocking home his team-leading fifth goal of the season.
What You Missed: Prior to the match, the club honored its four players who represented the U.S. at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea. Justen Glad, Danny Acosta and Brooks Lennon all started the match, while Sebastian Saucedo appeared off the bench. The four were recognized and given framed pictures commemorating the run to the quarterfinals.
So What: Real Salt Lake has now won three straight home matches and sits three points behind the San Jose Earthquakes for the sixth playoff spot in the Western Conference. With a road test against the Earthquakes next week, it’s an opportunity to continue the progress the team made this week.
