REAL SALT LAKE EARNS 1-1 DRAW AT CHICAGO FIRE
MF Albert Rusnák Scores Sixth of 2019 Season as Road Swing Comes to a Close
CHICAGO, Ill. (Saturday, June 22, 2019) – Real Salt Lake (6-8-2, 20 points) earned a hard-fought road point in a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire on Saturday night.
MF Albert Rusnák notched RSL’s lone goal in the first half to earn his team-leading sixth goal of the 2019 season. GK Nick Rimando kept Chicago at bay in the second half to help RSL preserve the road point.
Postgame Quotes from RSL at Chicago Fire
Chicago jumped out to the early lead as the Fire capitalized on a freekick from 23 yards out when Aleksandar Katai curled home the low freekick. After falling under pressure with spurs of possession in the first half, RSL leveled the match in the 33rd minute when Rusnák calmly put away his fourth penalty kick of the season. RSL continued to put Chicago under pressure to find the go-ahead goal before half, but the Fire defense held as the teams entered the break level at 1-1.
In the second half RSL held possession well while the Fire remained on the back foot, but the visitors were unable to find a clear-cut chance at goal as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake returns home for its second annual Pride Night on June 29 against rival Sporting Kansas City. Kickoff from Sandy is set for 8:00p MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
CHI:Aleksandar Katai, 5th minute: After Fire midfielder Dax McCarty earned a free kick 23 yards from goal, Katai curled a low drive to the far post that edged past Nick Rimando for the early lead.
RSL: Albert Rusnák (PK), 33rd minute: After the ball struck Mo Adams’ arm inside the penalty area, the referee awarded a penalty kick. Rusnák stepped up the spot, calmly dispatching the ball to his right side as the goalkeeper went the opposite direction.
NOTES:
- DF Tony Beltran (knee) was out of action due to injury.
- FW Jefferson Savarino remains away with the Venezuelan National Team at the 2019 Copa America in Brazil. After scoreless draws in the first two matches of the Group Stage, Venezuela met Bolivia in the final match of the group. Savarino started and played 90 minutes in a 3-1 victory to advance to the Quarterfinal Round.
- MF Albert Rusnák’s first half penalty marked his team-leading sixth goal of the season.
Match: Real Salt Lake at Chicago Fire
Date: June 22, 2019
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium; Bridgeview, Illinois
Attendance: 15,609
Weather: Partly cloudy and 77 degrees
Scoring Summary:
1 2 F
Real Salt Lake: 1 0 1
Chicago Fire: 1 0 1
CHI:Aleksandar Katai 5’
RSL: Albert Rusnák (PK), 33’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Aaron Herrera, Nedum Onuoha, Justen Glad, Donny Toia; Everton Luiz, Kyle Beckerman (Nick Besler 83’); Corey Baird(Sam Johnson 76’), Albert Rusnák, Sebastian Saucedo (Brooks Lennon 70’); Damir Kreilach
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Marcelo Silva, Luke Mulholland, Tate Schmitt
Chicago Fire: (4-5-1): Kenneth Kronholm; Brandt Bronico, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marcelo, Jorge Corrales; Mohammed Adams(Przemyslaw Frankowski HT), Dax McCarty, Aleksandar Katai, Fabian Herbers(Jeremiah Gutjahr 78’), Nicolas Gaitan; Nemanja Nikolic (C.J. Sapong 63’)
Subs not used: David Ousted, Grant Lillard, Amando Moreno, Diego Campos
Stats Summary: CHI / RSL
Shots: 7 / 7
Shots on Goal: 2 / 2
Saves: 1 / 1
Corner Kicks: 5 / 2
Fouls: 18 / 17
Offside: 3 / 1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
CHI: Mohammed Adams (caution) 15’
RSL: Everton Luiz (caution) 34’
RSL: Nick Rimando (caution) 90’+3
CHI: Bastian Schweinsteiger (caution) 90’+3
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistant Referees: Philippe Briere, Kyle Longville
4th Official: Joe Dickerson
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
AVAR: Peter Manikowski
