SANDY, Utah (Saturday, June 29, 2019) – Real Salt Lake (7-8-2, 23 points) claimed a 2-0 victory over rival Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night. The win moves RSL to a 5-2-0 home record on the year, starting a stretch of eight-out-of-11 matches at Rio Tinto Stadium with a victory.
FW Sam Johnson scored a first-half brace to solidify the victory for RSL in front of 18,933 fans at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Postgame Quotes from RSL vs. Sporting Kansas City
In the opening 15 minutes of the match, RSL maintained possession in both halves of the field and were rewarded with a goal in the 15th minute. Johnson opened scoring when he put MF Kyle Beckerman’s flicked header into the back of the net. Johnson found his second goal of the match in the 29th minute when he put away a shot on a superb counter attack from RSL for his team-leading seventh goal of the season. The Utah side would hold onto the 2-0 lead as the teams entered the halftime break.
The second half of action saw RSL hold strong defensively and in the 85th minute nearly found the game’s third goal, but MF Damir Kreilach’s header was judged to be offside after being assessed by video review. RSL held on for the final 15 minutes and vanquished the final threats from SKC for the 2-0 victory.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake sees a quick turnaround as it hosts Columbus Crew SC on Wednesday, July 3 at 8:00p MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RSL: Sam Johnson (Kyle Beckerman, Damir Kreilach), 15th minute: A driven corner kick to the far corner of the penalty area found Kreilach who intelligently clipped the ball back into the middle of the area with his first touch. His volley found the head of Beckerman who’s flicked header found Johnson at the back post and he slid the ball home for his sixth goal of the season.
RSL: Sam Johnson (Damir Kreilach, Albert Rusnák), 29th minute: After Rusnák read SKC’s attack well, he broke free on a 4v1 opportunity on goal. Rusnák elected to square the ball across the box to Kreilach who’s touch got away from him slighty and Johnson cleaned up, slamming home his second of the match.
NOTES:
- DF Tony Beltran (knee) was out of action due to injury.
- FW Jefferson Savarino was away with the Venezuelan National Team at the 2019 Copa America in Brazil. Venezuela was eliminated in the quarterfinals after a 2-0 loss to Argentina on Friday. He played 158 minutes in two appearances in the tournament as Venezuela went 1-1-2 overall in its run to the quarterfinal round. Savarino is expected to return to RSL next week.
- After receiving a yellow card late in the first half, Kyle Beckerman will miss Wednesday’s match against Columbus Crew SC due to yellow card suspension.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs. Sporting Kansas City
Date: June 29, 2019
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 18,933
Weather: Partly cloudy and 89 degrees
Scoring Summary:
1 2 F
Real Salt Lake: 2 0 2
Sporting KC: 0 0 0
RSL: Sam Johnson (Kyle Beckerman, Damir Kreilach) 15’
RSL: Sam Johnson (Damir Kreilach, Albert Rusnák) 29’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Aaron Herrera, Nedum Onuoha, Justen Glad, Donny Toia; Everton Luiz, Kyle Beckerman; Albert Rusnák (Tate Schmitt, 90’+1), Damir Kreilach, Sebastian Saucedo (Brooks Lennon, 61’); Sam Johnson (Corey Baird, 67’)
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Marcelo Silva, Nick Besler, Joao Plata
Sporting KC: (4-5-1): Tim Melia; Nicolas Hasler, Botond Barath (Andreu Fontas, 62’), Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic; Felipe Gutierrez, Ilie Sanchez (Benny Feilhaber, 71’), Gedion Zelalem; Gerso, Krisztian Nemeth (Yohan Croizet, HT), Daniel Salloi
Subs not used: Adrian Zendejas, Graham Smith, Kelyn Rowe, Wan Kuzain
Stats Summary: RSL / SKC
Shots: 10 / 11
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 3 / 5
Corner Kicks: 1 / 7
Fouls: 18 / 14
Offside: 2 / 1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SKC: Ilie Sanchez (caution) 38’
RSL: Kyle Beckerman (caution) 45’+2
SKC: Benny Feilhaber (caution) 66’
RSL: Everton Luiz (caution) 90’+2
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Nima SaghafiAssistant Referees: Ian Anderson, TJ Zablocki
4th Official: Kevin Broadley
VAR: Alejandro Mariscal
AVAR: Craig Lowry
