SANDY, Utah (Wednesday, July 21, 2021) – Real Salt Lake (4-4-5, 17 points) played to a 2-2 draw with the LA Galaxy on Wednesday night, seeing the team’s home record in 2021 move to 2-2-4.
Albert Rusnák and Maikel Chang each scored first-half goals in the draw against the Galaxy while David Ochoa registered four saves and Aaron Herrera notched his team-leading sixth assist of the 2021 season.
Postgame Press Conferences with Freddy Juarez, Albert Rusnák and Rubio Rubin.
RSL began the game with immediate pressure on the Galaxy backline and found the breakthrough goal in the 9th minute when Rusnák’s left-footed effort easily found the back of the net from a Herrera cross. The goal marked Rusnák’s third of the season, and first from open play in 2021. RSL didn’t let off from there and were rewarded in the 26th minute with a second goal through Chang who worked the ball well in possession at the top of the area to fire a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the near post for the 2-0 lead.
In the 33rd minute, LA Galaxy pulled a goal back through Victor Vazquez whose curling effort from just inside the penalty area found the top corner of the net, bringing the score to 2-1 at the halftime break.
In the second half the match opened as both teams saw chances to hit the back of the net. The Galaxy were the ones who found the only goal of the second half when Rayan Raveloson’s header brought the match level in the 77th minute. In second-half stoppage time, second-half substitute Anderson Julio nearly found the winning goal when his header caromed off the crossbar before being cleared away as the match ended 2-2.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake will remain at home to welcome Rocky Mountain rival Colorado Rapids on Saturday, July 24. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. MT.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RSL: Albert Rusnák (Aaron Herrera, Maikel Chang) 9th minute - Following a quick give-and-go near the top of the penalty area, Herrera found time and space to send a low cross into the center of the penalty area. Rusnák ran onto the end of the cross and sent a left-footed effort into the far-side netting for the early lead.
RSL: Maikel Chang (Rubio Rubin) 26th minute - Receiving the ball in a wide area, Chang cut in towards the top of the box and found space to fire a low, left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the net to extend the RSL lead to 2-0.
LAG: Victor Vazquez (Samuel Grandsir, Sacha Kljestan) 33rd minute -Receiving the ball just inside the penalty area, Vazquez found a window past his defender to curl an effort towards the far post that found the top corner of the net.
LAG: Rayan Raveloson (Julian Araujo, Derrick Williams) 77th minute -Collecting the ball out wide, Araujo sent a curling cross into the center of the area where the ball was headed home emphatically by Raveloson to level the match.
NOTES:
- Defender Toni Datković was unavailable as an injury precaution.
- In the 9th minute of the match, Albert Rusnák scored the game’s opening goal and in the same minute, reached his 10,000th minute played for RSL.
- Defenders Andrew Brody and Zack Farnsworth and forward Jeizon Ramirez were unavailable due to injury. Ramirez has been placed on the injured list with a quad injury and will be eligible to return to action after tonight’s match. Brody underwent successful surgery after suffering a toe injury in RSL’s 1-0 loss to LAFC on July 3.
- Real Salt Lake had four RSL Academy products in the XI and five on the 20-man roster. Additionally, one starter and three players on the 20-man roster were previously signed to the Monarchs.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy
Date: July 21, 2021
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Weather: Cloudy and 90 Degrees
Attendance: 16,169
Scoring Summary:1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 2 0 2
LA Galaxy 1 1 2
RSL: Albert Rusnák (Aaron Herrera, Maikel Chang) 9’
RSL: Maikel Chang (Rubio Rubin) 26’
LAG: Victor Vazquez (Samuel Grandsir,Sacha Kljestan) 33’
LAG: Rayan Raveloson (Julian Arujo, Derrick Williams) 77’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): David Ochoa; Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, Donny Toia; Everton Luiz (Justin Meram 83’), Pablo Ruiz (Nick Besler 73’); Maikel Chang (Anderson Julio 74’), Damir Kreilach, Albert Rusnak; Rubio Rubin (Bobby Wood 88’*
Subs not used: *Zac MacMath, Ashtone Morgan, Erik Holt, Justin Portillo, Jonathan Menendez
LA Galaxy (4-3-3): Jonathan Bond; Julian Araujo, Derrick Williams, Jorge Villafaña, Nick DePuy; Rayan Raveloson (Daniel Aguirre 90’+1), Victor Vazquez (Adam Saldana 76’), Sacha Kljestan; Kevin Cabral (Augustine Williams 90’+7), Samuel Grandsir (Daniel Steres 77’), Cameron Dunbar (Ethan Zubak HT)*
Subs not used: *Jonathan Klinsmann, Danilo Acosta, Jonathan Perez
Stats Summary: RSL / LAG
Shots: 11 / 12
Shots on Goal: 4 / 6
Saves: 4 / 2
Corner Kicks: 4 / 5
Offside: 2 / 3
Fouls: 7 / 15
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
LAG: Rayan Raveloson (caution) 72’
LAG: Sacha Kljestan (caution) 77’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistant Referees: Jeff Hosking, Diego Blas
4th Official: Michael Radchuk
VAR: Daniel Radford
AVAR: Brian Dunn
