REAL SALT LAKE FALLS 1-0 TO TIGRES UANL IN 2019 LEAGUES CUP
After Leagues Cup Exit, RSL Turns Attention to Crucial MLS Match Saturday at FC Dallas
SANDY, UT (Wednesday, July 24, 2019) – Real Salt Lake bowed out of the inaugural 2019 Leagues Cup after falling to Liga MX side Tigres UANL on Wednesday in a 1-0 scoreline. Wednesday's match was presented by the Utah Sports Commission.
RSL equaled the three shots on goal from Tigres and had several near-misses, hitting the post twice and having two other opportunities thwarted by offside flags. GK Nick Rimando finished the night with two saves, but a deflected long-range shot in the second half proved to be the difference.
Postgame quote sheet from RSL v UANL.
A scoreless first half saw the two sides trading possession in the middle of the park and opportunities for an opening goal. RSL got its first real opportunity through FW Jefferson Savarino early on after creating a chance that was blocked out by Tigres GK Nahuel Guzmán. Tigres UANL responded with quick counter-attacks in the remainder of the half, putting the RSL defense to the test, but Rimando and the backline answered the call to keep the game without a goal. RSL rounded out the first half with a headed chance from MF Damir Kreilach that was snagged out of the air by Guzmán.
To open up the second half, Kreilach found the back of the net after taking a shot from a distance, but the goal was ultimately called back for an offside call. Plata nearly found the back of the net again for RSL but his shot rebounded off the post and WAS cleared by the Tigres defense. It was Tigres UANL that struck first as Enner Valencia hit the ball back to Eduardo Vargas, whose lifted shot from distance went over the backline to find the back of the net. Late in the match, after a high boot, referee John Pitta gave DF Brooks Lennon a yellow card, but after VAR review, changed the card to red leaving RSL with 10 men for the last five minutes.
Ultimately, Real Salt Lake could not find the equalizing goal in the second half, leading to an early exit from the inauguralLeagues Cup tournament.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake returns to MLS action on Saturday, July 27 when it visits FC Dallas. Kickoff from Frisco is set for 6:00p MT and can be seen live on KMYU and the KSL TV app.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
UANL: Eduardo Vargas (Enner Valencia), 57thminute – On the break, the Tigres attack pushed forward, finding the feet of Valencia just outside the 18-yard-line. Valencia made a quick pass back to Vargas who was quick to lift a shot from distance over the backline that found its way into the net.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS
UANL: Nahuel Guzmán, 8th minute: FW Jefferson Savarino used his quick feet at the top of the penalty area to create a gap in the Tigres backline to fire a shot that looked to be an early goal for Real Salt Lake. Guzmán answered the low shot however by making the save and protecting the scoreline.
UANL: Nahuel Guzmán, 44th minute: Guzmán came up big again to close out the first half after a cross from FW Joao Plata connected with MF Damir Kreilach. Kreilach made a headed effort to pocket the ball into the top corner, but Guzmán reached a hand out to snag the ball from the air.
NOTES:
- Real Salt Lake and Tigres UANL helped kick off the inaugural Leagues Cup alongside six other clubs from Major League Soccer and Liga MX. The LA Galaxy was the lone MLS side to advance, topping Tijuana on penalties on Tuesday. Tigres will face Club America in the semifinal round, with the Galaxy hosting Cruz Azul.
- Former RSL DF Carlos Salcedo and GK Lalo Fernandez both made their returns to Rio Tinto Stadium. Salcedo started for Tigres, while Fernandez was on the bench.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs Tigres UANL
Date: July 24, 2019
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance:15,136
Weather:Clear skies and 90 degrees
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 0 0
Tigres UANL 0 1 1
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Erik Holt, Brooks Lennon, Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera; Everton Luiz (Kyle Beckerman, 46’), Nick Besler; Jefferson Savarino, Damir Kreilach, Joao Plata (Sebastian Saucedo, 63’); Corey Baird (Tate Schmitt 81’)
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Luke Mulholland, Marcelo Silva, Noah Powder
Tigres UANL (4-2-3-1): Nahuel Guzmán; Carlos Salcedo, Jorge Torres, Hugo Ayala, Jesús Dueñas (Rafael Carioca, 17’); Javier Aquino, Jürgen Damm (Luis Quiñones, 73’), Eduardo Vargas, Guido Pizarro, Luis Rodríguez; Enner Valencia (André-Pierre Gignac, 78’)
Subs not used: Raúl Torres, Jair Díaz, Juan Sánchez, Lalo Fernández
Stats Summary: RSL/UANL
Shots: 8 / 11
Shots on Goal: 3 / 3
Saves: 2 / 3
Corner Kicks: 3 / 4
Fouls: 11 / 9
Offside: 6 / 3
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL – Brooks Lennon (Ejection) 84’
UANL – Carlos Saucedo (Caution) 88’
RSL – Mike Petke (Ejection) 90’+4
OFFICIALS:
Referee: John Pitti
Assistant Referees: Christian Ramirez, Micheal Barwegen
4th Official: David Gantar
VAR: Quetzalli Alvarado Godinez
