SANDY, Utah (Saturday, August 20, 2022) – Real Salt Lake (10-8-8, 38 points, 5th West) secured a point at home, conceding late to draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-1. The Claret-and-Cobalt remain in fifth place in the crowded Western Conference standings, one of nine teams mired in a 10-point glut between third and 11th places. RSL FW Sergio Cordova extended his scoring streak to three consecutive matches, but it was not enough to secure the win at home in front of RSL’s Club-record 13th consecutive home sellout.
Postgame Quotes from VAN vs. RSL
Postgame Video from VAN vs. RSL: Pablo Mastroeni, Zac MacMath
Both sides came out in the first half looking to possess and create pressure in the offensive zone. Real Salt Lake sought to leverage the counter-attack several times in the first half, getting the ball out to the wings to lead the quick transition, but could not muster any clean shots on goal in the half. Vancouver played a more pressing style in the half, maintained a high line in the middle third and pressured Real Salt Lake’s backline several times, but also could not muster any significant shots on frame. The half ended with the score knotted at 0-0.
The Whitecaps came out of halftime applying pressure in the offensive zone. Vancouver possessed the ball deep in the zone but still could not muster any strong shots on frame. RSL continued to execute the counterattack, generating a great scoring chance when DF Aaron Herrera lofted a long clearing pass over top to Sergio Cordova that he corralled, then cleanly sent a drop pass to FW Jefferson Savarino who was streaking up the center of the field. Savarino ripped off a clean shot on frame that GK Thomas Hasal had to leap to deflect over the crossbar. Savarino again found the crossbar in the 56th minute but Vancouver withstood the pressure.
Real Salt Lake finally capitalized on the counterattack when MF Jasper Loffelsend hit Cordova with a long clearing pass as he was streaking up the center of the field. Sergio gathered the pass in stride, took a few dribbles to center himself and buried his shot from the penalty spot past Hasal to give Real Salt Lake the lead. RSL GK Zac MacMath was forced to make multiple stops of point-blank shots as Vancouver started to mount offensive pressure inside the box.
With only three minutes remaining in regulation, Vancouver again assembled pressure in the middle third of the field of play. Whitecaps playmaker Ryan Gauld sent a long centering pass into the box that found the head of Julian Gressel. Gressel redirected a flick header over DF Erik Holt past MacMath to even the score at 1-1. Both clubs continued to mount pressure in the offensive zone, but neither was able to find the back of the net and the game ended in a draw.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake travels to the Lone Star State to take FC Dallas on Saturday, August 27 at 7:00 p.m. MT. The critical game can be seen live on KMYU, and KSL TV App, with pregame show beginning at 6:30 p.m. MT
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:
RSL: Sergio Cordova (Jasper Löffelsend) 61st minute: On the counterattack,Jasper Löffelsendsent a long clearing pass to Sergio Cordova as he was sprinting up the middle of the field. Cordova corralled the pass while in full stride, took strides to gather himself, set the ball and rifled a shot from the penalty spot past Thomas Hasal to give the Claret-and-Cobalt the lead.
VAN: Julian Gressel (Ryan Gould, Ranko Veselinovic) 87th minute: Gressel redirected a long centering pass from Gauld, flicking a solid header past Zac MacMath.
NOTES:
- Bobby Wood (abductor), Tate Schmitt (knee), Danny Musovski (hamstring), and Damir Kreilach (back) were unavailable due to injury.
- Braian Ojeda, and Bryan Oviedo were unavailable, pending visa.
- Marcelo Silva became 18th player in team history with at least 100 MLS regular season starts with the Claret-and-Cobalt
Match: Vancouver Whitecaps vs Real Salt Lake
Date: August 20, 2022
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah
Weather: Overcast, 75°
Attendance: 20,567
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 1 1
Vancouver Whitecaps 0 1 1
RSL: Sergio Cordova (Jasper Löffelsend) 61’
VAN: Julian Gressel (Ryan Gauld, Ranko Veselinovic) 87’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Zac MacMath; Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Andrew Brody, Maikel Chang (Anderson Julio 62’), Pablo Ruiz, Jasper Löffelsend (Scott Caldwell 72’), Justin Meram (Rubio Rubin 71’), Jefferson Savarino, Sergio Cordova (Eric Holt 83’)
Subs not used: Tomas Gomez, Johan Kappelhof, Nick Besler, Diego Luna, Bode (Davis) Hidalgo
Vancouver Whitecaps (4-4-2): Thomas Hasal, Ranko Veselinovic, Tristan Blackmon, Jake Nerwinski (Marcus Godinho 82’), Cristian Dajome, Alessandro Schopf (Julian Gressel 55’), Andres Cubas, Ryan Gould, Ryan Raposo (Brian White 68’), Russell Teibert (Sebastian Berhalter68’), Lucas Cavallini (Tosiant Ricketts 87’)
Subs not used: Luis Martins, Janio Bikel, Florian Jungwirth, Cody Cropper
Stats Summary: VAN / RSL
Shots: 14 / 13
Shots on Goal: 4 / 4
Saves: 3 / 3
Corner Kicks: 7 / 6
Fouls: 10 / 6
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Jasper Löffelsend (caution) 12’
VAN: Russell Teibert (caution) 18’
VAN: Sebastian Berhalter (caution) 90+2'
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
Assistant Referee #1: Jason White
Assistant Referee #2: Walt Heatherly
4th Official: Alex Chilowicz
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
AVAR: Jeff Muschik
