SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (Saturday, February 22, 2020) – Real Salt Lake’s comeback effort fell short in a 3-2 loss to Phoenix Rising FC on Saturday in the final match of the 2020 Visit Tucson Sun Cup at Casino Arizona Field.
Damir Kreilach got the scoring started early when he put away a ball from Aaron Herrera in the 11th minute. However, Phoenix scored twice before halftime to take a 2-1 lead. Rising would add a third in the 57th minute before RSL saw a late surge. Giuseppe Rossi had a near-miss late in the second half, then Justin Meram cut the lead in half at 3-2 in the 87th minute. Albert Rusnák had a last-minute shot stopped off a ball from Rossi and the match ended with the 3-2 tally.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake returns home for two days of training before opening the 2020 MLS regular season on Saturday, February 29 on the road against Orlando City SC at Exploria Stadium.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Aaron Herrera) 11th minute – On a ball up the right side, Aaron Herrera slid in to beat Phoenix goalkeeper to the ball and played a square ball to Damir Kreilach trailing the play. Kreilach fired a first-time shot into the open net from the edge of the 18 for a 1-0 lead.
PHX: Joe Farrell 19th minute – Zac MacMath save an initial effort from Phoenix, parrying a shot off the post and the rebound fell to Joe Farrell, who put back the second effort to make it 1-1.
PHX: Soloman Asante (AJ Cochrane) 40th minute – A ball looped to Soloman Asante alone at the far post and he turned a side-winding shot past Zac MacMath for a 2-1 lead.
PHX: Jon Bakero 57th minute – After working the ball up the right side, the ball spilled out to Jon Bakero fired a shot inside the far post to make it 3-1.
RSL: Justin Meram 89th minute – XX played Justin Meram up the left side and he outplayed his defender before firing a left-footed shot inside the far post to cut the lead in half at 3-2.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs. Phoenix Rising FC
Date: February 22, 2020
Venue: Casino Arizona Field; Scottsdale, Arizona
Weather: Cloudy and 66
Scoring Summary:1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 1 2
Phoenix Rising FC 2 1 3
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Aaron Herrera) 11’
PHX: Joey Farrell 19’
PHX: Solomon Asante (AJ Cochrane) 40’
PHX: Jon Bakero 57’
RSL: Justin Meram 89’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1) – Zac MacMath; Justen Glad (Maikel Chang 77’), Marcelo Silva, Nedum Onuoha, Donny Toia; Kyle Beckerman (Nick Besler 77’), Justin Portillo; Aaron Herrera, Albert Rusnák, Tate Schmitt (Justin Meram 72’); Damir Kreilach (Giuseppe Rossi 67’).
Phoenix Rising FC Starters – Zac Lubin; Owusu-Ansah Kontoh, AJ Cochran, Joey Farrell, Darnell King; Kevon Lambert, Jose Aguinaga; Santi Moar, Jon Bakero, Solomon Asante; Rufat Dadashov.
