CARSON, California (Saturday, June 9, 2018) – Real Salt Lake (7-7-1, 22 points) held the LA Galaxy at bay for 60 minutes, but two goals in six minutes from Zlatan Ibrahimovic changed the game and RSL entered Major League Soccer’s World Cup break with a 3-0 defeat to the LA Galaxy.
In an even first half, RSL outshot the Galaxy 4-3, with both teams putting one shot on frame. In the 42nd minute GK Nick Rimando thwarted an effort from LA midfielder Perry Kitchen and just before the conclusion of the first half FW Corey Baird had his header saved by David Bingham.
The second half saw two goals from Ibrahimovic in quick succession as he made two opportunistic plays to make the difference for the Galaxy. On the first, Chris Pontius put a ball in the box from the right side and Rimando came out to punch it clear, but misplayed it and Ibrahimovic leapt for a header into the open net to make it 1-0 in the 61st minute. Then in the 67th minute, Servando Carrasco served a ball into the box and Ibrahimovic got positioning on DF Justen Glad to put a second header into the net for a 2-0 lead for LA. Ola Kamara would later add a third goal and RSL left StubHub Center with a 3-0 defeat.
The loss halted a three-game winning streak for RSL, who concluded a stretch of five matches across all competitions in 15 days with a 3-2-0 record.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake will have the weekend off before returning to MLS action on June 23 at Rio Tinto Stadium against the San Jose Earthquakes.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
LA: Zlatan Ibrahimiovic, 61st minute – Chris Pontius took a volley from the right side of the box that Nick Rimando sprung off his line to punch clear, but his punch went straight up and Zlatan Ibrahimovic beat his man to the header into the open net to make it 1-0.
LA: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Servando Carrasco), 67th minute – On a ball in from the left side, Zlatan Ibrahimovic got positioning on Justen Glad to get his head to it and put it back inside the far post for his second goal of the match and a 2-0 lead for the Galaxy.
LA: Ola Kamara (Chris Pontius), 76th minute – David Bingham played a long ball out of the back and Chris Pontius got on the end of the second ball up the right side. He crossed it to Ola Kamara at the edge of the 18 and then pushed the ball to the left for a shot inside the far post for the 3-0 lead.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
RSL: Nick Rimando, 42nd minute – On a ball crossed from right-to-left in front of RSL’s goal, Perry Kitchen got on the end of it for a shot, but Nick Rimando made the point-blank save.
RSL: Justen Glad, 56th minute – Zlatan Ibrahimovic got his head to an initial ball in the air and Nick Rimando deflected it, but it fell in front of the open goal. Ibrahimovic made a second effort, but Justen Glad lunged in front of it to make the clearance and keep the match scoreless.
RSL: Nick Rimando, 57th minute – Zlatan Ibrahimovic led Ola Kamara behind the RSL defense and took a shot as he got into the box. Nick Rimando came off his line and met the shot just off Kamara’s boot for the save.
NOTES:
- RSL played without six players due to injury. GK Alex Horwath (Achilles), DF Shawn Barry (knee), DF Tony Beltran (knee), MF Luke Mulholland (back) FW Joao Plata (abdominal strain) and FW Jordan Allen (knee).
- MF Albert Rusnák returned to the lineup after missing the previous two matches while away with the Slovakian National Team. Rusnák started in a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands and earned an assist off the bench in a 2-1 loss to Morocco.
- MF Kyle Beckerman was on the bench as a precaution after feeling soreness in his groin this week.
Real Salt Lake at LA Galaxy
Date: June 9, 2018
Venue: StubHub Center, Carson, California
Attendance: 25,462
Weather: Clear and 73
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 0 0
LA Galaxy 0 3 3
LA: Zlatan Ibrahimovic 61’
LA: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Servando Carrasco) 67’
LA: Ola Kamara (Chris Pontius) 76’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Brooks Lennon (Luis Silva 71’), Marcelo Silva, Justen Glad, Danilo Acosta; Damir Kreilach, Sunny; Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnák, Joao Plata; Corey Baird (Pablo Ruiz 77’).
Subs not used: Connor Sparrow, Taylor Peay, Aaron Herrera, Nick Besler, Kyle Beckerman.
LA Galaxy (4-2-3-1): David Bingham; Dave Romney, Jorgen Skjelvik, Michael Ciani, Ashley Cole; Servando Carrasco, Perry Kitchen; Ola Kamara, Sebastian Lletget (Bradford Jamieson 48’), Chris Pontius (Ariel Lassiter 91+’); Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Emmanuel Boateng 85’).
Subs not used: Justin vom Steeg, Daniel Steres, Tomas Hilliard-Arce, Joao Pedro.
Stats Summary: RSL / LA
Shots: 13 / 10
Shots on Goal: 3 / 6
Saves: 3 / 3
Corner Kicks: 6 / 6
Fouls: 10 / 9
Offside: 1 / 3
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
LA: Jorgen Skjelvik (Caution) 53’
RSL: Brooks Lennon (Caution) 63’
LA: Ola Kamara (Caution) 69’
RSL: Marcelo Silva (Caution) 78’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Ted Unkel
Assistant Referees: Kyle Atkins, Jeffrey Greeson
4th Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Video Assistant Referee: Kevin Terry Jr.
