ST. PAUL, Minn. (Sunday, September 15, 2019) – Real Salt Lake (14-12-4, 46 points) fell 3-1 to Minnesota United FC on Sunday night at Allianz Field.
MF Albert Rusnák notched RSL’s lone goal of the night – his 10th of 2019 – to take the outright lead in the club’s Golden Boot race, but Minnesota stormed back with three goals to claim victory.
Postgame quotes from RSL at MNUFC.
RSL jumped out to an early lead in the 17th minute when Rusnák fired a low shot that found the bottom corner of the net. Minnesota answered quickly in the 20th minute when Darwin Quintero latched onto a through ball before dribbling GK Nick Rimando and firing into an empty net to draw the match level at 1-1. RSL continued to apply pressure throughout the first half, creating multiple chances on goal but the teams entered the break knotted at 1-1.
Minnesota came out of the halftime break with new energy and found the go-ahead goal in the 50th minute when Quintero let loose a right-footed effort that beat Rimando just side of the near post for the 2-1 lead. Minnesota saw out the match and added a third goal in the 83rd minute when Ethan Finlay tucked home a breakaway effort to seal the 3-1 scoreline.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake remains on the road to face the New England Revolution on Saturday, September 21 at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff from Foxborough is set for 5:30p MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
RSL: Albert Rusnák, 17th minute: After a through ball to Jefferson Savarino saw him create space for a shot and force a save out of Vito Mannone, the ball fell out to Rusnák at the top of the area. The Slovakian squared up to his defender to create space for a shot that spilled into the near bottom corner for the lead.
MNUFC: Darwin Quintero (Kevin Molino), 20th minute: With space near the center circle, Molino threaded a through ball to Quintero who ran in towards Rimando. Quintero rounded Rimando to tuck a shot off the post and in to bring the match level.
MNUFC: Darwin Quintero, 51st minute: A breakdown near midfield saw two RSL players reach for the ball and both miss out on possession. Minnesota broke forward with Quintero who fired a right-footed shot through the legs of RSL defender Nedum Onuoha and just inside the near post for the go-ahead goal.
MNUFC: Ethan Finlay (Romain Metanire), 83rd minute: Holding possession near the sideline, Metanire clipped a ball to the far side of the field to find the streaking run of Finlay. Finlay set up his chance and fired the breakaway past Rimando for the 3-1 scoreline.
NOTES:
- DF Tony Beltran (knee) and MF Nick Besler (broken right foot) were out of action due to injury.
- Since returning from the Gold Cup break on June 22, RSL has the best defense in MLS. In those 15 matches, RSL is 8-4-3 with seven shutouts and a league-best 0.73 goals against average.
- Albert Rusnák, Jefferson Savarino and Sam Johnson all returned to the starting lineup after international duty. Savarino appeared off the bench on Wednesday in a 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes while Johnson and Rusnák were unavailable that match.
Match: Real Salt Lake at Minnesota United FC
Date: September 15, 2019
Venue: Allianz Field; St. Paul, Minnesota
Attendance: 19,364
Weather: 63 degrees and sunny
Scoring Summary 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 0 1
Minnesota United FC 1 2 3
RSL: Albert Rusnák 17’
MNUFC: Darwin Quintero (Kevin Molino) 20’
MNUFC: Darwin Quintero 51’
MNUFC: Ethan Finlay (Romain Metanire), 83’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Aaron Herrera, Nedum Onuoha, Justen Glad, Donny Toia; Everton Luiz, Kyle Beckerman; Albert Rusnák, Damir Kreilach (Brooks Lennon 80’), Jefferson Savarino (Joao Plata 72’); Sam Johnson (Corey Baird 72’)
Subs not used: David Ochoa, Marcelo Silva, Kelyn Rowe, Luis Arriaga
Minnesota United FC (4-5-1): Vito Mannone; Romain Metanire, Ike Opara, Micahel Boxall, Wilfried Moimbe, Jan Gregus, Osvaldo Alonso, Kevin Molino (Ethan Finlay 68’), Darwin Quintero (Hassani Dotson 77’), Robin Lod; Mason Toye (Abu Danladi 68’)
Subs not used: Dayne St. Clair, Lawrence Olum, Brent Kallman, Miguel Ibarra
Stats Summary: MIN/RSL
Shots: 18 / 13
Shots on Goal: 6 / 5
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 2 / 4
Fouls: 10 / 6
Offside: 3 / 2
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
None
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Assistant Referees: Ian Anderson, Andrew Bigelow
4th Official: Chris Penso
VAR: Kevin Stott
AVAR: Cory Richardson
