PORTLAND, Ore. (Saturday, August 7, 2021) – Real Salt Lake (5-6-6, 21 points) fell 3-2 at Portland Timbers FC on Saturday night, bringing its three-match road trip to a close.
Albert Rusnák and Damir Kreilach each notched goals in the loss as come-from-behind effort falls short.
The hosts jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when video review judged a handball in the penalty area against RSL that gave Portland a penalty in the 10th minute. Dairon Asprilla calmly stepped to the spot and slotted a right-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net. The Timbers then doubled its advantage in the 29th minute when Yimmi Chara’s left-footed shot from outside the penalty area found the top corner of the net to bring the game to 2-0.
In the 40th minute RSL pulled a goal back through Rusnák who fired a low left-footed shot through traffic inside the box that crept inside the near post to bring the score to 2-1 into the halftime break.
RSL controlled the match until the 62nd minute when Felipe Mora found himself with time and space inside the penalty area to put the hosts up 3-1 with a clever finish around Zac MacMath. Following the goal, RSL continued to generate chances at goal and finally found the back of the net in the 80th minute when Kreilach’s volley inside the area flew into the back of the net bringing the score to 3-2. RSL then pressed for the equalizer with multiple chances on goal that were snuffed by Timbers goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic as the match finished 3-2.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake returns home for the first of three straight home matches against opposition from Texas as it welcomes Austin FC to Sandy for the first time. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
POR: Dairon Asprilla (Penalty), 10th minute: After a video review for a handball in the box, Asprilla stepped to the spot and drove a low shot into the bottom-right corner of the net for the early lead.
POR: Yimmi Chara (Dairon Asprilla, Marvin Loria), 29th minute: An entry ball into the top of the penalty found the feet of Asprilla who flicked on to the run of Chara whose left-footed shot easily found the top corner of the net.
RSL: Albert Rusnák (Jonathan Menendez), 40th minute: Receiving a back pass inside the penalty area from Menendez, Rusnák found space just inside the box for a left-footed shot that snuck underneath the sliding effort of a defender and past the goalkeeper to find the inside of the near post.
POR: Felipe Mora (Sebastian Blanco), 62nd minute: Holding the ball near the touchline, Blanco brought the ball inside before lofting the ball into the penalty area where an unmarked Mora brought the ball down in possession before turning and curling the ball into the far side netting.
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Pablo Ruiz), 80th minute: Making a darting run towards the penalty area off the ball, Kreilach received the floated pass from Ruiz, taking the ball down before smashing a shot into the roof of the net.
NOTES:
- Midfielder Damir Kreilach was named to the 28-man roster for the 2021 MLS All-Star Game. The best in MLS will face the LigaMX All-Stars on August 25 at Banc of California Stadium.
- Defender Toni Datkovic made his first MLS start after coming to RSL from Aris Thessaloniki in Greece.
- Rubio Rubin made his first appearance at Providence Park in his native Oregon. The Beaverton native moved to FC Utrecht in Holland in 2013.
- Goalkeeper Zac MacMath celebrated his 30th birthday. The match against the Timbers will be his 10th start for RSL and 150th start (152nd appearance) in his MLS career. For RSL, he has four shutouts and a 1.00 GAA in nine previous starts.
- Goalkeeper David Ochoa was unavailable due to quad tightness.
- Defenders Andrew Brody and Zack Farnsworth were unavailable due to injury. Brody underwent successful surgery after suffering a toe injury in RSL’s 1-0 loss to LAFC on July 3.
- Real Salt Lake had three RSL Academy products in the XI. Additionally, four players on the 20-man roster were previously signed to the Monarchs.
Match: Real Salt Lake at Portland Timbers FC
Date: August 7, 2021
Venue: Providence Park; Portland, Oregon
Weather: Overcast and 75 Degrees
Attendance: 23,577
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 1 2
Portland Timbers 2 1 3
POR: Dairon Asprilla (Penalty), 10’
POR: Yimmi Chara (Dairon Asprilla, Marvin Loria), 29’
RSL: Albert Rusnák (Jonathan Menendez), 40’
POR: Felipe Mora (Sebastian Blanco), 62’
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Pablo Ruiz), 80’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Zac MacMath; Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Toni Datkovic, Donny Toia (Noah Powder 76’); Everton Luiz (Bobby Wood 76’), Pablo Ruiz; Jonathan Menendez (Maikel Chang 86’), Damir Kreilach, Albert Rusnak; Rubio Rubin
Subs not used: Andrew Putna, Ashtone Morgan, Marcelo Silva, Nick Besler, Anderson Julio, Justin Meram
Portland Timbers (4-5-1): Aljaz Ivacic; Josecarlos Van Rankin, Claudio Bravo, Bill Tuiloma, Dario Zuparic; George Fochive, Cristhian Paredes, Yimmi Chara, Dairon Asprilla (Diego Valeri 65’), Marvin Loria (Sebastian Blanco HT); Felipe Mora (Zachery McGraw 90’)
Subs not used: Hunter Sulte, Pablo Bonilla, Larrys Mabiala, Blake Bodily, Renzo Zambrano
Stats Summary: POR / RSL
Shots: 13 / 23
Shots on Goal: 3 / 9
Saves: 7 / 0
Corner Kicks: 1 / 14
Offside: 0 / 1
Fouls: 14 / 15
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:RSL: Justen Glad (caution) 6’
RSL: Jonathan Menendez (caution) 14’
RSL: Everton Luiz (caution) 45’+2
RSL: Aaron Herrera (caution) 48’
RSL: Maikel Chang (caution) 87’
POR: Diego Valeri (caution) 89’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Rosendo Mendoza
Assistant Referees: Cameron Blanchard, TJ Zablocki
4th Official: Elijio Arreguin
VAR: Daniel Radford
AVAR: Apolinar Marsical
