SANDY, Utah (Friday, August 3, 2023) – Real Salt Lake advances to the Leagues Cup Round of 16 with a 3-1 come-from-behind victory thanks to a 12-minute trio of second-half goals, including a three-minute brace from **Danny Musovski** and a dagger from forward **Chicho Arango** to vanquish Liga MX side Club León.
Real Salt Lake will now travel to face Arango’s former team, the defending MLS Cup Champion LAFC, on Tuesday, August 8, with RSL’s active 11-game road unbeaten streak on the line in the Leagues Cup Round of 16 contest. A victory would most likely see RSL return home to host the Leagues Cup Quarterfinal on Saturday, August 12.
After severe weather in the area saw the match originally slated for Thursday rescheduled for almost 24 hours later, Real Salt Lake returned to the pitch looking for a berth in the Leagues Cup Round of 16. It was reigning CONCACAF Champions League holders Club León that drew first blood, taking the lead in the eighth minute, when Ivan Moreno pounced on a miss-hit clearance just inside the 18-yard-box to set up an open shot on goal for the 1-0 lead.
Real Salt Lake spent the remainder of the first half seeking the equalizer, maintaining a majority of the possession, but the Claret-and-Cobalt were unable to find the back of the net and entered the halftime break with a one-goal disadvantage.
Minutes into the second half, midfielder **Diego Luna** looked to take the lead with a rocket from five yards outside the box, but his attempt skipped over the crossbar. In the 55th minute, it seemed as if **Jefferson Savarino** had finally found the elusive goal, but his attempt smacked off the far post, and Musovski’s follow-up attempt on an open net was blocked by a defender’s sliding tackle.
Finally, in the 69th minute, the equalizing goal arrived, as Savarino sent a cross into the penalty box, which Arango pushed into the 'keeper, deflecting to an unmarked Musovski for an easy header into the back of the net. Two minutes later Musovski did it again, this time with **Andrew Brody** finding him wide open in the center of the pitch with a long incisive pass, Musovski slipped a shot past the goalkeeper, giving RSL its first lead of the match.
Then in the 81st minute, Arango secured the victory with the third goal of the match, pouncing on a loose ball after **Brayan Vera** saw his headed shot saved by the ‘keeper, but thankfully the forward was there to clean up the shot, sending the team to the Round of 16 for a matchup against domestic power LAFC.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake will now travel to Los Angeles for a Leagues Cup Round of 16 matchup against LAFC on Tuesday, August 8 at BMO Stadium.
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
LEO: Ivan Moreno 8th minute: After a miss-hit clearance at the top of the box, the ball bounced favorably to Moreno who was able to slip his shot into the near post.
RSL: Danny Musovski 69th minute: Jefferson Savarino found Chicho Arango with a cross into the box, where the ball skimmed off the header and off the reaching hand of the goalkeeper, leaving a loose ball in front of an unmarked goal for Musovski to head down into the back of the net.
RSL: Danny Musovski (Andrew Brody) 71st minute: Brody picked out an unmarked Musovski in the center of the field, hitting a long ball over the top for the forward to run onto. Outpacing the Club León defenders, Musovski slipped his shot underneath the goalkeeper.
RSL: Chicho Arango 81st minute: From a corner kick, Pablo Ruiz found the head of defender Brayan Vera whose shot was saved off the line by the goalkeeper, but Arango was there to clean up the loose ball.
NOTES:
- Tonight’s brace gives Musovski 9 goals and 5 assists across all competitions this year, matching Jefferson Savarino for the Club’s Golden Boot lead; the duo are the only two RSL players to score in all three competitions this season (MLS, U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup)
- Musovski’s production has come in 13 starts / 21 appearances since late April
- RSL’s win tonight improved the side to nine wins and three draws against just one loss since June 1, that setback coming in Leagues Cup group stage against Monterrey on July 26
- RSL has four wins and one loss in its last five games, outscoring visitors 13-5, with lopsided wins against Orlando (4-0), NY Red Bulls (3-1), Seattle (3-0) and León (3-1), surrounding the 0-3 home loss to continental elite Monterrey
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Zac MacMath; Emeka Eneli, Marceloa Silva, Brayan Vera, Andrew Brody; Jefferson Savarino (Bryan Oviedo 86’), Braian Ojeda, Pablo Ruiz, Diego Luna (Bode Hidalgo 77’); Chicho Arango (Rubio Rubin 86’), Danny Musovski (Anderson Julio 77’)
Subs not used: Gavin Beavers, Tomas Gomez, Justen Glad, Bode Hidalgo, Jasper Löffelsend, Nelson Palacio, Maikel Chang, Damir Kreilach
Club León (4-2-2): Rodolfo Cota; Jaine Barreiro, Adonis Frias, William Tesillo; Ivan Moreno, Jose Rodriguez, Lucas Romero (Fidel Ambriz 78’), Elias Hernandez; Angel Mena (Osvaldo Rodriguez 61’), Brain Rubio (Federico Vinas 61’), Omar Fernandez (Jose Alvarado 72’)
Subs not used: Oscar Garcia, Alfonso Blanco, Paul Bellon, Jose Ramirez, Oscar Villa, Hector Uribe, Sebastian Santos
Stats Summary: RSL / LEO
Shots: 18 / 8
Shots on Goal: 6 / 2
Saves: 1 / 3
Corner Kicks: 5 / 5
Fouls: 8 / 13
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Brayan Vera (caution) 19’
RSL: Danny Musovski (caution) 60’
LEO: Ivan Moreno (caution) 60’
LEO: William Tesillo (caution) 87’
