SANDY, Utah (Saturday, March 10, 2018) – Real Salt Lake (0-1-1, 1 point) tasted defeat in a home opener for the first time in club history, falling 5-1 to LAFC in the first ever meeting between the two clubs.
FW Joao Plata scored his second goal of the season, but LAFC (2-0-0, 6 points) responded with five unanswered goals to put the match away in RSL’s most lopsided home defeat in club history.
Real Salt Lake was the more dangerous team in the first half, but two goals in quick succession from LAFC sent RSL into halftime trailing 2-1. In the 19th minute, Plata drew a penalty when he was taken down in the box on an attack up the left side. After some consternation, Plata took the strike and while Tyler Miller made the initial save, Plata hit the rebound home with a first-time shot for his second goal of the season and a 1-0 lead. However, goals from Diego Rossi and Latif Blessing in the 30th and 33rd minutes pushed LAFC into the lead before the break.
The visitors added to the lead coming out of the break as Benny Feilhaber scored his first of the season in the 47th minute to make it 3-1. While RSL pressed for a comeback, LAFC found two more goals on the counter attack through Rossi in the 81st minute and Carlos Vela in the 86th minute as LA raced to a 5-1 victory.
UP NEXT: RSL will look to bounce back at home against the New York Red Bulls on March 17 at Rio Tinto Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RSL: Joao Plata 20th minute – After drawing a penalty when he was taken down on a ball up the left side, Plata took the spot kick. While Tyler Miller made the initial stop, Plata slammed home the rebound for his second goal in as many matches to start the season, giving RSL the 1-0 lead.
LFC: Diego Rossi (Marco Ureña, Benny Feilhaber) 30th minute – On a nifty ball up the left side, Marco Ureña spotted Diego Rossi on a free run into the box. Going 1v1 with Nick Rimando, Rossi put it past the RSL goalkeeper to equalize with his second goal of the season.
LFC: Latif Blessing (Steven Beitashour, Diego Rossi) 33rd minute – Some tic-tac-toe passing from LAFC led to the second goal, with Diego Rossi leading Steven Beitashour up the right side. Beitshour sent a low cross in to Latif Blessing on the doorstep for a simple tap-in for Latif Blessing.
LFC: Benny Feilhaber (Steven Beitashour, Diego Rossi) 47th minute – Just after halftime, Benny Feilhaber put his shot between the legs of Nick Rimando off of a ball slipped in from the right side by Steven Beitashour.
LFC: Diego Rossi (Carlos Vela) 81st minute – Carlos Vela sprung Diego Rossi in behind the RSL defense and he went 1v1 with Nick Rimando before putting it past him from the edge of the box for his second goal of the match.
LFC: Carlos Vela (Diego Rossi) 86th minute – On another counter attack, Diego Rossi found Carlos Vela in a seam up the middle and he lifted it past Nick Rimando.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
RSL: Demar Phillips, 6th minute – Carlos Vela rounded Nick Rimando to get free in the box on a break, but Demar Phillips was there for the goal-line clearance to prevent the goal.
RSL: Nick Rimando and Justen Glad, 64th minute – Benny Feilhaber sent a ball through for Marco Ureña. Nick Rimando came off his line to make the stop, but the rebound fell to the right side and Justen Glad slid in to block the second effort.
NOTES:
- RSL made just one change to the starting lineup from the season-opening 1-1 draw with FC Dallas, with DF David Horst replacing DF Marcelo Silva (hamstring). Others unavailable were DF Tony Beltran (knee), DF Taylor Peay (knee), DF Adam Henley (hamstring), DF Aaron Herrera (hamstring), FW Jordan Allen (knee).
- The crowd of 20,706 was the ninth-largest attendance in club history and the biggest crowd since RSL faced Tigres in the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals in March of 2016.
- FW Brooks Lennon made his 2018 debut after missing the first match and FW Alfredo Ortuño made his MLS debut coming on as a sub in the second half.
- Real Salt Lake was 5-0-8 in home openers in club history entering the night. The loss also halted an eight-game home unbeaten streak dating back to last season.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs LAFC
Date: March 10, 2018
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 20,706
Weather: Sunny and 52
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 0 1
LAFC 2 3 5
RSL – Joao Plata 20’
LFC – Diego Rossi (Marco Urena, Benny Feilhaber) 30’
LFC – Latif Blessing (Steven Beitashour, Diego Rossi) 33’
LFC – Benny Feilhaber (Steven Beitashour, Diego Rossi) 47’
LFC – Diego Rossi (Carlos Vela) 81’
LFC – Carlos Vela (Diego Rossi) 86’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Shawn Barry (Brooks Lennon 57’), David Horst (Sebastian Saucedo 77’), Justen Glad, Demar Phillips; Kyle Beckerman, Damir Kreilach; Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnák, Joao Plata; Luis Silva (Alfredo Ortuño 67’).
Subs not used: Alex Horwath, Danny Acosta, Sunny, Luke Mulholland.
LAFC: (4-2-3-1): Tyler Miller; Steven Beitashour, Dejan Jakovic, Laurent Ciman, Joao Moutinho (Jordan Harvey 83’); Benny Feilhaber, Mark Anthony Kaye; Latif Blessing (Tristan Blackmon 84’), Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi (Aaron Kovar 89’); Marco Ureña.
Subs not used: Charlie Lyon, Calum Mallace, James Murphy, Rodrigo Pacheco.
Stats Summary: RSL / LFC
Shots: 21 / 21
Shots on Goal: 6 / 11
Saves: 5 / 5
Corner Kicks: 3 / 9
Fouls: 9 / 12
Offside: 0 / 4
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL – Kyle Beckerman (caution) 29’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referees: Adam Garner, Apolinar Mariscal
4th Official: Drew Fischer
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Guzman, Jr.
