CARSON, Calif. (Saturday, September 30, 2017) – Real Salt Lake (12-14-6, 42 points) stayed in playoff contention with a 1-1 draw against the LA Galaxy on Saturday. MF Kyle Beckerman scored his fourth goal of the season on the last shot of the game as RSL kept hold of the sixth spot in the Western Conference standings.
RSL was reduced to 10 men early in the first half, but got six saves from GK Nick Rimando and a timely goal from Beckerman to earn the road point.
After video review, DF Marcelo Silva was shown a red card in the 14th minute after slowing Giovani dos Santos on a promising LA attack. He was initially shown yellow on the play, but referee Rubiel Vazquez changed his call after review. The Galaxy put the pressure to the RSL defense, outshooting the visitors 10-6 in the first half, but it wasn’t until the 41st minute that the first goal found the net. Bradford Jamieson sliced his way behind the RSL defense and hit a first-time shot off a ball from Jermaine Jones, turning his right-footed effort inside the far post and the match went into halftime with LA leading 1-0.
In the second half, Real Salt Lake battled back and had several late scoring chances. Ultimately, Beckerman scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time to earn the draw. Plata shot on a free kick from just outside the box, forcing LA goalkeeper Clement Diop into a save, diving to his right. The rebound fell to DF David Horst, who dropped a pass back to Beckerman. The RSL captain fired a left-footed shot inside the far post for his fourth goal of the season – two of which came in road matches against the Galaxy.
RSL maintains a hold of the sixth playoff spot, holding tiebreakers over the San Jose Earthquakes and FC Dallas.
Up Next: Real Salt Lake will not take the field again until facing the Colorado Rapids on October 15 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. RSL won the previous two meetings to clinch the 2017 Rocky Mountain Cup, winning 2-1 in Colorado on April 15 and 4-1 at Rio Tinto Stadium on August 26.
SCORING SUMMARY:
LA – Bradford Jamieson (Jermaine Jones), 41st minute: Jones played the ball through the RSL defense to lead Jamieson into space in the box. He turned on the ball from the right side and cut his first-time shot inside the far post for his third goal of the season.
RSL – Kyle Beckerman (David Horst), 95th minute: Joao Plata shot on a free kick from 23 yards out, forcing Clement Diop into a save. Horst got to the rebound and dropped a pass back to Beckerman on the left side. Beckerman took a left-footed shot that went inside the far post for his fourth goal of the season.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
RSL – Nick Rimando, 11th minute: Giovani dos Santos found Romain Alessandrini with a cross, but Rimando made a stellar stop of his right-footed shot for the first save of the match.
RSL – Nick Rimando, 27th minute: Emmanuel Boateng darted in behind the RSL defense and drew Rimando off his line and the RSL keeper made the foot-save to keep the match scoreless.
LA – Clement Diop, 63rd minute: RSL built up from the midfield and Joao Plata played a ball across the edge of the box to Tony Beltran, who touched it off for Luis Silva for a shot, but Diop made the diving stop.
RSL – Nick Rimando, 70th minute: Romain Alessandrini worked up the left side and took a near-post shot that Rimando blocked while leaning to his right.
LA – Celement Diop, 85th minute: Joao Plata played a ball through to Brooks Lennon on a run up the left side and his left-footed shot from close range was saved by Diop at the near post.
NOTES:
- After the match, MF Albert Rusnák (Slovakia), FW Jefferson Savarino (Venezuela) and FW Joao Plata (Ecuador) are scheduled to play in 2018 World Cup qualifying. All three are expected to return before RSL’s next match on October 15 against the Colorado Rapids.
- FW Jefferson Savarino left the match in the 69th minute with a left ankle injury. He is being further evaluated to determine if he will still play with Venezuela, as planned.
- After originally showing a yellow card on the play, referee Rubiel Vazquez consulted with VAR Ramy Touchan and issued a red card to DF Marcelo Silva in the 14th minute.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy
Date: September 30, 2017
Venue: StubHub Center; Carson, California
Attendance: 20,324
Weather: Clear and 67 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 1 1
LA Galaxy 1 0 1
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, Marcelo Silva, Justen Glad, Danilo Acosta; Kyle Beckerman, Luke Mulholland (David Horst 18’); Jefferson Savarino (Sebastian Saucedo 69’), Albert Rusnák, Joao Plata; Luis Silva (Brooks Lennon 66’).
Subs not used: Matt VanOekel, Yura Movsisyan, Sebastian Saucedo, Sunny, Chris Wingert
LA Galaxy: (4-2-3-1): Clement Diop; Gyasi Zardes (Rafael Garcia 34’), Dave Romney, Michael Ciani, Ashley Cole; Jermaine Jones, Jonathan dos Santos; Romain Alessandrini, Bradford Jamieson (Ariel Lassiter 76’), Emmanuel Boateng (Raul Mendiola 92+’); Giovani dos Santos.
Subs not used: Brian Rowe, Hugo Arellano, Jack McBean, Jack McInerney
Stats Summary: RSL / LA
Shots: 16 / 19
Shots on Goal: 6 / 8
Saves: 6 / 5
Corner Kicks: 5 / 7
Fouls: 6 / 14
Offside: 3 / 7
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL – Marcelo Silva (Ejection) 14’
LA – Gyasi Zardes (Caution) 32’
LA – Bradford Jamieson (Caution) 48’
RSL – David Horst (Caution) 81’
LA – Romain Alessandrini (Caution) 85’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson, Cameron Blanchard
4th Official: Hilario Grajeda
VAR: Ramy Touchan
