SANDY, Utah (Saturday, September 23, 2023) – Real Salt Lake (12-11-7, 43 points, T-4th West) came from behind to score two unanswered goals by **Brayan Vera** and **Justen Glad**, besting Vancouver Whitecaps FC in a 2-1 victory. With only four regular-season games remaining, Real Salt Lake are currently tied with Houston Dynamo for fourth place, the team will have three road matches and one final game at America First Field on October 7 in an effort to clinch a spot in the 2023 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
In the team’s penultimate regular-season home match at America First Field, Real Salt Lake established pressure early, creating several chances, but it was Vancouver who took the first lead with Brian White heading in a corner kick in the 17th minute. In the 31st minute, Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni was forced to make an early substitution as midfielder **Braian Ojeda** came on in place of an injured **Jasper Löffelsend**.
Forward **Chicho Arango** looked to equalize in the 39th minute, but his header was pushed just wide of goal by ‘keeper Yohei Takaoka, and the ensuing corner kick was handled by Vancouver’s defense. Unable to secure the equalizer, RSL headed into the halftime break down 0-1.
Immediately out of the halftime break, Real Salt Lake found its equalizer when Colombian **Brayan Vera** scored from a direct free kick for the second time in the last four games, skipping his shot straight into the back of the net. Real Salt Lake took its first lead of the night in the 65th minute when RSL Homegrown Justen Glad rose up over two defenders to head in a cross from Andrés Gómez for, his fifth goal of the season, a career-high for the defender, and his first when warning the armband.
In the remaining 25 minutes, Real Salt lake was able to withstand Vancouver’s best efforts to put themselves back in the game. It looked as if they may have gotten their chance in the 82md minute, but Zac MacMath was able to save White’s shot off the line, preserving the lead. After the referee had blown the final whistle, Video Assisted Review indicated a possible handball inside the box by Vera which took place during the final minute of stoppage, but the foul was determined to not be worthy of a penalty and the match officially ended 2-1 in favor of Real Salt Lake.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake will head West to visit LAFC at BMO Stadium on Sunday, October 1 at 6:00 p.m. MT, before returning to America First Field for the final regular season home match against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, October 7 at 7:30 p.m. MT.
GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:
VAN: Brian White (Ryan Gauld) 18th minute: From a corner kick Gauld serviced the ball to White who was able to head the ball past the diving arms of the goalkeeper.
RSL: Brayan Vera 47th minute: After winning a free kick for a foul on Chicho Arango, Vera hit a left-footed shot from deep outside the 18-yard-box, skipping the ball into the back of the net.
RSL: Justen Glad (Andres Gomez) 65th minute: Following a series of miss-hits off a corner kick, Gomez lofted a cross to the middle of the penalty box where Glad rose up over two defenders and headed the ball into the middle of the goal.
NOTES:
- Defender Brayan Vera scored his second goal of the season, both goals were left-footed shots on direct free kicks from deep outside the 18-yard-box.
- RSL Homegrown defender Justen Glad recorded his fifth goal of the season, a career record. His five goals are now tied with forwards Danny Musovski and Chicho Arango for the second-most on the team, one behind Designated Player Jefferson Savarino.
- RSL DP Chicho Arango saw his four-game goal-scoring streak snapped tonight, one game shy of Damir Kreilach’s five-game scoring run, set in 2021
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Zac MacMath; Emeka Eneli, Justen Glad, Brayan Vera, Bryan Oviedo (Andrew Brody 68’); Andres Gomez, Nelson Palacio, Jasper Löffelsend, Diego Luna (Rubio Rubin 85’); Chicho Arango (Bode Hidalgo 85’), Danny Musovski (Anderson Julio 68’)
Subs not used: Gavin Beavers, Kevon Lambert, Braian Ojeda, Maikel Chang, Damir Kreilach
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (3-5-2): Yohei Takaoka; Ranko Veselinovic, Tristan Blackmon, Javain Brown (Simon Becher 78’); Richie Laryea, Alessandro Schopf (Ali Ahmed 69’), Andres Cubas, Ryan Raposo (Sam Adekugbe 70’), Pedro Vite (Junior Hoilett 62’); Brian White, Ryan Gauld
Subs not used: Isaac Boehmer, Mathias Laborda, Sebastian Berhalter, Jean-Claude Ngando, Russell Teibert
Stats Summary: RSL / VAN
Shots: 15 / 9
Shots on Goal: 10 / 2
Saves: 1 / 7
Corner Kicks: 9 / 3
Fouls: 14 / 10
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Andrew Brody (caution) 74’
RSL: Nelson Palacio (caution) 82’
RSL: Brayan Vera (caution) 90+4’
VAN: Sam Adekugbe (caution) 90+11’
