Real Salt Lake 0 vs. 3 Columbus Crew
_April 1, 2023; Lower.com Field; Columbus, Ohio
Real Salt Lake (1-4-0, 3 points); Columbus Crew (3-2-1, 10 points)_
Telling Stat: Real Salt Lake’s loss to Columbus marks the fourth consecutive match without a point this season. The last time RSL lost four consecutive matches was at the beginning of the 2019 season when the team began the year with a 1-4-1 record. RSL won its first match that season on April 13th at home against Orlando City SC. The Club turned things around and finished with a 16-13-5 record and a third place finish in the Western Conference, advancing to the Conference Semifinals.
What You Missed: The Crew opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Lucas Zelarayán’s back heel pass set up Aidan Morris, who slotted the ball into the back of the net for an early 1-0 lead. In the 29th minute Columbus came close to adding a second goal, but the RSL debutant **Gavin Beavers** swatted away a bouncing ball just before it crossed the goal line. Maikel Chang had RSL’s best chance of the first half in the 31st minute with a left-footed shot inside the box, but he was denied by an outstretched Patrick Schulte. The Crew would find their second goal in the 41st minute on a penalty kick from Zelarayán after a foul from Pablo Ruiz inside the box. Columbus picked up where they left off in the second half as Aidan Morris scored his second goal of the game on a rebound opportunity in the 53rd minute. Yaw Yeboah added another goal in stoppage time to give the hosts a 4-0 win.
What’s Next?: RSL will host 2022 expansion side Charlotte FC for the first matchup between the two clubs on Saturday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. MT at America First Field. The following week, the Club will travel to Texas to face FC Dallas on April 15.
