Sandy, Utah (Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017) – Real Salt Lake (9-13-5, 32 pts) dominated from first kick to final whistle in routing the San Jose Earthquakes 4-0 in front of 17,460 fans at Rio Tinto Stadium. GK Nick Rimando earned his 100th career shutout in an RSL jersey in his 300th regular season appearance for the club, highlighting a night that was filled with offense for the Claret-and-Cobalt.
The first half of action went solely into RSL’s favor, holding nearly 59 percent of the possession and generating multiple chances on goal to test Earthquake’s net-minder Andrew Tarbell. Through its possession, RSL produced a goal through FW Luis Silva after 29 minutes and nearly added a second multiple times in the final 15 minutes of the half.
RSL picked up right where it left off from the first half after the break, pressuring the San Jose goal from the get-go. MFs Albert Rusnák and Luke Mulholland and Brooks Lennon all struck the left post in the half as RSL’s relentless attacks continued. RSL finally found its second goal 20 minutes from time when MF Jefferson Savarino curled an alluring shot into the top corner from 18 yards out.
Rusnák found his goal in minute 80 when his shot turned in off the far post to solidify a top-class performance where he earned a goal and two assists in 82 minutes of play. FW Yura Movsisyan added a fourth goal in stoppage time when he hammered home a second opportunity in the box for his seventh goal of the 2017 campaign.
Rimando made the only save necessary to keep the Quake’s attack off the scoreboard to earn career shutout 136 and now stands at 100 shutouts with RSL.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake remains at home to take on the Rocky Mountain Cup rival Colorado Rapids on Saturday (8:00 pm MT kickoff). RSL and the Rapids met in mid-April at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park with RSL walking away with the full three points courtesy of a Brooks Lennon strike three minutes from time. With a win against the Rapids, the Claret-and-Cobalt will clinch the 2017 Rocky Mountain Cup for the tenth time in the fan based competition’s history.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RSL – Luis Silva (Albert Rusnák), 29th minute: A wonderful through ball into space from Rusnák put Silva into the box at a tight angle towards goal. Silva found space between San Jose goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell’s legs to fire home his third goal in three games.
RSL – Jefferson Savarino (Albert Rusnák), 68th minute: After an initial appeal for a handball in the box, Savarino got the ball back just outside the penalty area looking for a shot. Savarino drove his way past two defenders and curled a perfect shot into the top left corner of the San Jose net for the game’s second goal.
RSL – Albert Rusnák (Joao Plata), 80th minute: Continuing a relentless attack, striker Joao Plata played a driven ball across the box to an on-rushing Rusnák who’s first-time shot glanced in off the far post and in for the third goal of the match.
RSL – Yura Movsisyan, 90’+3rd minute: RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando played a side volley from his area to perfection to spring Movsisyan on the counter attack. Movsisyan elected to try and play a pass across the face of the area but his own pass deflected to himself as he finished off the shot ruthlessly.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
SJ – Tommy Thompson, 24th minute: After a brilliant 1-2 passing move just outside the Earthquake’s penalty area RSL striker Joao Plata found space for a shot but Thompson’s sliding challenge denied the opportunity.
SJ – Andrew Tarbell, 49th minute: RSL striker Luis Silva’s low curling effort early in the first half was handled well by Tarbell as he dove to his left to hold the effort.
NOTES:
- Rancid drummer Branden Steineckert and guitarist/vocalist Lars Frederiksen served as honorary captains in the match.
- Luis Silva has now scored in three straight matches, while Albert Rusnák has registered three assists in two games.
- RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando has now earned 300 regular season appearances for RSL and 100 shutouts with the Claret-and-Cobalt.
- Video Review was instituted in the match, disallowing Joao Plata’s goal in the 52nd minute after Luis Silva was judged to have slid into San Jose goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell, causing a foul prior to the goal. The original call on the field was a goal, but after video review, the call was reversed and the goal was disallowed.
- After receiving a yellow card in the second half of the match, MF Kyle Beckerman will miss the match against Colorado on August 26 due to yellow card accumulation.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs San Jose Earthquakes
Date: August 23, 2017
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 17,460
Weather: Clear and 82 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 3 4
San Jose Earthquakes 0 0 0
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake: (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, David Horst, Justen Glad, Danilo Acosta; Kyle Beckerman, Luke Mulholland; Jefferson Savarino (Brooks Lennon, 71’), Albert Rusnák (Sebastian Saucedo, 83’), Joao Plata; Luis Silva (Yura Movsisyan, 83’)
Subs not used: Lalo Fernandez, Chris Wingert, Justin Schmidt, Sunny
San Jose Earthquakes: (3-5-2): Andrew Tarbell; Fatai Alashe, Victor Bernárdez, Francois Affolter (Andrés Imperiale, 59’); Kofi Sarkdoie, Aníbal Godoy, Tommy Thompson, Shea Salinas, Valeri Qazaishvili (Danny Hoesen, 74’), Chris Wondolowski; Quincy Amarikwa (Jackson Yueill, 65’)
Subs not used: David Bingham, Jahmir Hyka, Darwin Cerén, Marco Ureña
Stats Summary: RSL/SJ
Shots: 23 / 9
Shots on Goal: 9 / 1
Saves: 1 / 5
Corner Kicks: 11 / 2
Fouls: 19 / 7
Offside: 3 / 0
SCORING SUMMARY
RSL – Luis Silva (Albert Rusnák) 29’
RSL – Jefferson Savarino (Albert Rusnák) 68’
RSL – Albert Rusnák (Joao Plata) 80’
RSL – Yura Movsisyan 93+’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL – Luke Mulholland (caution) 24’
SJ – Francois Affolter (caution) 31’
SJ – Aníbal Godoy (caution) 33’
RSL – Kyle Beckerman (caution) 60’
SJ – Aníbal Godoy (second caution, ejection) 61’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Assistant Referees: Claudiu Badea, Anthony Vasoli
4th Official: Daniel Radford
VAR: Allen Chapman
