LAS VEGAS, Nevada (Wednesday, April 26, 2023) – Real Salt Lake advanced to the Fourth Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with 3-1 (a.e.t) win at Las Vegas. RSL emerged after the 120 minutes powered by a brace of extra-time goals from Captain **Damir Kreilach** and a stoppage time insurance goal from Las Vegas native **Danny Musovski**.
Having never won a road match in its 10-game road U.S. Open Cup history, Real Salt Lake looked to change its fortune at Las Vegas, deploying a 3-5-2 lineup against the USL Championship side. The Claret-and-Cobalt began the match as the clear aggressor, with multiple opportunities inside the first 15 minutes, including what appeared to be a go-ahead goal from Kreilach that was called back due to him being in an offside position.
As the first half continued, the Lights began to find their footing, forcing 17-year-old Homegrown goalkeeper and Las Vegas native **Gavin Beavers** to make several saves. Nearing the end of the first half, the Lights mounted a last-ditch attack, but Beavers was able to push Andrew Carleton’s shot off the top crossbar with the shot rebounding to the feet of rookie **Emeka Eneli** - whose clearance kept the score level at 0-0 heading into the halftime break.
The start of the second half saw the two sides trading attacking opportunities, but neither team was able to score. In the 68th minute, Krielach and **Ilijah Paul** had consecutive opportunities on goal. Kreilach’s shot ricocheted off the Vegas goalkeeper to the feet of Paul, but Lights defender Leo Diaz was able to pounce on the loose ball, preventing what seemed to be a certain goal.
Throughout the remainder of regulation time, neither side was able to find the go-ahead goal as the 90 minutes of regulation ended deadlocked at 0-0, sending the match into extra-time.
In the sixth minute of extra-time, Beavers was tasked with making a massive save, coming off his line to prevent a breakaway goal. Real Salt Lake nearly found the back of the net in the 10th minute of extra-time, when a free kick saw Musovski put a ball over the defense, but Kreilach’s volley skipped just above the crossbar. Moments later Kreilach finally netted the go-ahead goal, heading in a cross from rookie **Bertin Jacquesson** in the 105th minute to take the 1-0 lead.
The lead would be short-lived, however, as Lucas Stauffer bounced a shot off the leg of an RSL player, deflecting past Beavers in the 112th minute to level the score 1-1. But Kreilach would not be denied, as the midfielder ran onto the end of a cross from **Andrés Gómez** in the 116th minute,following an incisive Eneli pass, to retake the lead and net the eventual game winner. In the final minute of stoppage time, Musovski put the final nail in the coffin, capitalizing on a poorly-handled save to secure the 3-1 win and advance to Round Four of this year’s tourney.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake returns home to America First Field to host Seattle Sounders this Saturday, April 29 at 7:30 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Bertin Jacquesson) 105th minute: After earring a corner kick, Jacquesson served in a ball directly to the head of Kreilach who flicked the ball down, bouncing his shot past the goalkeeper.
LV: Lucas Stauffer (Botello Faz) 112th minute: Stauffer gathered Faz’s shot and skipped a shot towards goal, making the ball deflect off the leg of an RSL player and past the goalkeeper.
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Andrés Gómez, Emeka Eneli) 116th minute: at midfield, Eneli found Gómez streaking down the right side,
sending a ball in across the face of goal, where Kreilach was able to one-touch his shot past the goalkeeper.
RSL: Danny Musovski 121st minute: Jacquesson saw his shot saved, but the goalkeeper pushed the ball directly to Musovski, who easily slotted home the mishandled save.
NOTES:Â
- Tonight’s lineup had a combined 479 MLS starts, 308 of which came from Justen Glad and Damir Kreilach alone. Meanwhile, five starters have earned three or fewer MLS starts, including Diego Luna (3), Emeka Eneli (2), Ilijah Paul (1), Gavin Beavers (1) and Delentz Pierre (0).
- Defender Delentz Pierre made his first Real Salt Lake appearance, the Homegrown yet to make his Major League Soccer debut.
-Generation Adidas winger Bertin Jacquesson made his RSL debut as a second-half substitute for Pierre in the 78th minute. Jacquesson would go on to record his first professional assist on Damir Kreilach’s goal in the 105th minute.
- The win marked RSL’s first-ever road win in the U.S. Open Cup - now 1-9-1 (W-L-T away) and first win overall since an advancement on penalties at home in 2016.
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (3-5-2): Gavin Beavers; Erik Holt (Scott Caldwell 90+10’), Justen Glad (Bryan Oviedo 59’), Delentz Pierre (Bertin Jacquesson 78’); Emeka Eneli, Braian Ojeda, Pablo Ruiz (Bode Hidalgo 59’), Diego Luna (Andres Gomez 103’), Maikel Chang; Damir Kreilach, Ilijah Paul (Danny Musovski 78’)
Subs not used: Zac MacMath
Las Vegas Lights (4-4-2): Leo Diaz; Luke Stauffer, Zach Carroll, Marcelo Lage (Jordan Ayimbila 76’), Tyler Bagley; Jacob Bushue, Andres Jimenez Aranzazu, Andrew Carleton (Azriel Gonzalez 65’), Justin Ingram (Danny Rios 102’); Erick Torres (Botello Faz 76’), Tabort Etaka Preston (Manu Ledesma 76’)
Subs not used: Andre Zuluaga, Zander Romero
Stats Summary: RSL/LVShots: 27/21
Shots on goal: 10/8
Saves: 6/7
Corner Kicks: 7/4
Fouls: 17/18
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:RSL: Erik Holt (caution) 61’
LV: Jacob Bushue (caution) 63’
LV: Andre Zuluaga (caution) 112’
