REAL SALT LAKE ELIMINATED FROM POSTSEASON CONTENTION IN 2-1 LOSS
RSL Falls 2-1 to LA Galaxy in Final Road Game of the Season
CARSON, California (Sunday, November 1, 2020) – Real Salt Lake (5-9-7, 22 points) was eliminated from contention for the 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday night after a 2-1 loss to the LA Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park.
Douglas Martinez notched his second goal of the 2020 season, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a 2-0 deficit on the road.
Postgame quotes from RSL v LAG.
The Galaxy jumped out to the lead through Giancarlo Gonzalez in the 18th minute, heading in a free kick from Sebastian Lletget. RSL couldn’t break through to pressure the Galaxy backline in the first 45 minutes, seeing the home team taking the 1-0 lead into the halftime break.
RSL came out of the halftime break on the front foot and nearly found the equalizer through Corey Baird whose chipped effort was cleared off the line in the 50th minute. But the Galaxy doubled its advantage in the 65th minute when Cristian Pavon carved through the RSL defense for a goal. In the 78th minute, Martinez latched onto the end of a Justin Meram cross to slash the Galaxy lead in half, but a late push for an equalizer fell short.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake will close out the 2020 regular season on Sunday, November 8 at 4:40 p.m. MT against Sporting Kansas City at Rio Tinto Stadium.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
LA: Giancarlo Gonzalez (Sebastian Lletget) 18th minute: Earning a free kick on the near side, Lletget swung in a ball that found the head of Gonzalez whose snap header from 10 yards skipped off the turf and into the bottom-left corner of the net.
LA: Cristian Pavon (Emiliano Insua) 65th minute: Receiving the ball at midfield, Pavon dribbled through the RSL backline before toe-poking the ball inside the far post to double the host’s advantage.
RSL: Douglas Martinez (Justin Meram, Maikel Chang) 78th minute: Opening up space for himself on the edge of the penalty area, Meram clipped in a cross to a wide-open Martinez whose glancing header bounced past David Bingham in net to cut the Galaxy lead in half.
NOTES:
- Midfielder Kyle Beckerman and forwards Giuseppe Rossi, Jeizon Ramirez and Chris Garcia were not medically cleared to play.
- Defender Aaron Herrera was unavailable due to yellow card accumulation.
- The loss sees RSL eliminated from 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs contention.
Match: Real Salt Lake at LA Galaxy
Date: November 1, 2020
Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park; Carson, California
Weather: Cloudy and 70 degrees
Scoring Summary:1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 1 1
LA Galaxy 1 1 2
LA: Giancarlo Gonzalez (Sebastian Lletget) 18’
LA: Cristian Pavon (Emiliano Insua) 65’
RSL: Douglas Martinez (Justin Meram, Maikel Chang) 78’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Andrew Putna; Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Nedum Onuoha, Donny Toia (Maikel Chang 73’); Everton Luiz (Douglas Martinez 73’), Pablo Ruiz; Corey Baird, Albert Rusnàk, Justin Meram; Damir Kreilach
Subs not used: David Ochoa, Erik Holt, Alvin Jones, Tate Schmitt, Nick Besler, Justin Portillo, Milan Iloski
LA Galaxy (4-4-2): David Bingham; Emiliano Insua, Daniel Steres, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Julian Arujo; Perry Kitchen, Jonathan dos Santos (Joe Corona 60’), Sebastian Lletget (Sacha Kljestan 83’), Cristian Pavon; Yony Gonzalez (Rolf Feltscher 57’), Ethan Zubak
Subs not used: Jonathan Klinsmann, Nick dePuy, Efrian Alvarez, Emil Cuello, Kai Koreniuk, Cameron Dunbar
Stats Summary: RSL / LAG
Shots: 8 / 9
Shots on Goal: 4 / 1
Saves: 0 / 2
Corner Kicks: 1 / 2
Fouls: 15 / 13
Offside: 1 / 1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
LA: Giancarlo Gonzalez (caution) 56’
LA: Ethan Zubak (caution) 68’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Jon Freemon
Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Walt Heatherly
4th Official: Alex Chilowicz
VAR: Kevin Stott
AVAR: Mike Kampmeinert
