Real Salt Lake 0 at D.C. United 5
March 16, 2019; Audi Field
Real Salt Lake (1-1-1, 4 points); D.C. United (2-0-1, 7 points)
Man of the Match: Last week, it was difficult to choose just one player in a comprehensive team performance in a 1-0 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Real Salt Lake’s home-opener. This week, it was also difficult to choose a Man of the Match. Bofo Saucedo came off the bench to play the final 27 minutes of the match and finished with two shots and one shot on goal. In a match that was all but over at that point, he was aggressive in the attack.
Telling Stat: Through 30 minutes, RSL had two shots to three for D.C. RSL had the game’s only shot on goal at that point. Over the final 60 minutes, RSL was outshot 19-2, including 11 shots from Wayne Rooney alone, who netted a hat trick. Through the first two matches of the season against Houston and Vancouver, RSL faced 24 shots and just four shots on goal. Losing two players to red cards thwarted any possibility of a comeback by the 67th minute.
What You Missed: Prior to the match, RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando was honored on the field by D.C. United General Manager and VP of Soccer Operations Dave Kasper and Head Coach Ben Olsen. Kasper and Olsen presented Rimando with a framed D.C. United jersey commemorating his five seasons with the club. Rimando announced on March 1 that this season would be his last and after the match, he received a respectful ovation in his final regular season match in D.C.
So What: There will be a lot for Head Coach Mike Petke to examine as RSL looks to move past a difficult defeat after two promising results to open the season. And with the next match coming against LAFC, who started the season with two home wins entering a Sunday afternoon match at NYCFC this week, the schedule isn’t about to get any easier. Adding to the degree of difficulty next week, Petke won’t have five key players available – Albert Rusnák, Sam Johnson and Corey Baird will be away on international duty while Jefferson Savarino and Marcelo Silva will serve red card suspensions. After using the same starting 11 through the first three matches, the depth of the club will be tested against LAFC next week.
