IRVINE, Calif. (Friday, February 24, 2017) – Real Salt Lake finished off its preseason training camp on Friday with a 2-1 win over Armenian champions Aleshkert FC at UC-Irvine. FW Yura Movsisyan and FW Chad Barrett scored goals for RSL, who notched the comeback win to finish preseason with a 2-1-5 record, as the majority of the starters in the match played the full 90 minutes.
The match started off slow for RSL and Alashkert scored in the eighth minute when a ball got loose in front of GK Nick Rimando’s goal. The Alashkert player got to the errant ball first and put it in the net for the 1-0 advantage.
As RSL sought to make the comeback, the front four made some good connections moving forward, but couldn’t connect on the final ball and were thwarted repeatedly by the Alashkert goalkeeper. Finally in the 43rd minute, Movsisyan broke through. MF Luke Mulholland and FW Joao Plata linked up the left side and Mulholland ended up firing a shot from the edge of the box. The initial effort was saved, but the rebound fell to Movsisyan for a simple putback to even it up at 1-1.
In the second half, Barrett nearly gave RSL the lead in the 61st minute. DF Aaron Maund played a ball over the top for Barrett, whose initial shot was saved. Plata tried for the putback, but his shot was saved as well and finally Barrett tried for a third effort but missed wide under duress and the match stayed at 1-1.
The match got physical as the second half wore on and looked like it was bound for a draw when MF Luis Silva played Barrett through in stoppage time. He broke behind the defense and then slotted his shot between the goalkeepers legs and into the net for his second goal of preseason, this one a match-winner on the final kick of the ball as RSL won 2-1.
RSL now returns to Utah, where the club will open its 13th season on Saturday, March 4 against Toronto FC at Rio Tinto Stadium.
REAL SALT LAKE 2-1 ALASHKERT FC
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017
Irvine, Calif.
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 1 2
Alashkert FC 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
ALA: 8’
RSL: Yura Movsisyan 43’
RSL: Chad Barrett (Luis Silva) 92+’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, David Horst (Aaron Maund 46’), Chris Schuler, Chris Wingert; Sunny, Luke Mulholland (Luis Silva 76’); Jordan Allen (Ricardo Velazco 76’), Albert Rusnak, Joao Plata; Yura Movsisyan (Chad Barrett 46’).
