SAN JOSE, Calif. (Sat., Oct. 5, 2024) – Real Salt Lake (15-7-11, 56 Pts, t-3rd West) extended the Club’s active five-game unbeaten run with an impressive 1-0 win away at San Jose Earthquakes, the Utah side recording a second consecutive clean sheet at PayPal Park on Saturday night.
Bay Area native and MLS All-Star MF Diego Luna scored a thumping drive from outside the penalty box 12 minutes from full time as RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s men clinched a top-four seed and home-field advantage in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, now tied with Seattle in the third overall position in the Western Conference standings entering Major League Soccer’s Oct. 19 Decision Day..
Heading into the contest, RSL made a total of five personnel and two positional changes to the starting XI from Wednesday’s 0-0 home draw against Minnesota in the team’s last outing.
Outside backs Alex Katranis and Javain Brown were drafted into the starting lineup on the night in place of Brayan Vera and Andrew Brody, whilst midfielder Nelson Palacio returned to the 11 alongside Braian Ojeda, in place on Emeka Eneli, who was given a rest from the start. In attack, attackers Luna and Anderson Julio were both also selected in place of captain Chicho Arango and Matt Crooks, both of whom eventually made appearances as second-half substitutes.
Aiming to bounce back from its shock loss to its opponents in both sides’ first encounter on August 24 in Sandy, RSL began the game in the ascendancy with its blend of attacking flair and high press. For its bright start, the visitors were nearly gifted in the 2nd minute, when a long throw into the box from Brown ultimately fell to Luna at the back post, but his first-time volley was narrowly saved and pushed over the bar by SJ ‘keeper Daniel.
RSL then saw a second chance to go in front just three minutes later, when midfielder Dominik Marczuk, cutting from the right flank, made his way into the penalty area before moving inside onto his left foot and lasering a low, powerful effort towards goal, again pushed away.
The Claret-and-Cobalt continued to control proceedings throughout a dominant first half, leading the contest with a total of five shots, two on target, 54 percent possession, and eight corners all by the end of the first 45 minutes.
The visitors’ ascendancy only continued after halftime, with both Chicho and Marczuk coming close on multiple occasions before the team deservedly went ahead late on through an individual piece of brilliance from Luna. In the 78th minute, midfielder Braian Ojeda assumed possession of the ball in a dangerous position deep in the hosts’ half before laying off a simple pass for Luna, who subsequently cut infield to create separation from an opposing defender before rifling a powerful left-footed effort off the right post and into the back of the net.
With yet another shutout, the result also represented the team’s second consecutive clean sheet, and ninth overall of the season, as well as its first back-to-back shutouts stretch since April 13 and 20, in 0-0 and 4-0 results against Columbus and at Chicago.
RSL return to action again for its final game of the regular season at home for the visit of its legendary former captain Damir Kreilach and the Vancouver Whitecaps to America First Field on MLS “Decision Day” on Sat., Oct. 19. To access news, schedules, rosters and more, visit www.RSL.com.
RSL 1 : 0 SJ
GOALSCORING SUMMARY:
RSL: Diego Luna (Braian Ojeda) 78’: In the 78th minute, midfielder Braian Ojeda assumed possession of the ball in a dangerous position deep in the hosts’ half before laying off a simple pass for Luna who subsequently cut infield to create separation from an opposing defender before rifling a powerful left-footed effort off the right post and into the back of the net.
NOTES FROM RSL 1 : 0 SJ
- RSL also now need just one more win, in its final game against Vancouver, to establish a new all-time single-season point record of 59 points, surpassing the 57 points accrued back in 2012, whilst a draw in its concluding game would equal the long-standing record.
- GK Zac MacMath earned his sixth clean sheet of the 2024 campaign. The shutout is also his 29th for Real Salt Lake, in 97 career reg. season contests.
- With yet another shutout, the result also represented the team’s second consecutive clean sheet, and ninth overall of the season, and its first successive clean sheet stretch since its pair earned on April 13 and 20, in 0-0 and 4-0 results against Columbus and Chicago respectively.
- RSL remain in the running for one of the 10 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup spots and could clinch it with a third-place end-of-regular-season Western Conference finish.
- Midfielder Diego Luna’s second-half strike now, against his hometown team and former academy side, now moves him up to seven goals in domestic competitions this year, to go with his 12 assists.
- RSL, in the 2024 season, have now earned the second-most road points of all time in franchise history, (23) and behind only its 2023 campaign (28).
- Tonight’s win extends the Claret-and-Cobalt’s unbeaten streak to five games since its last loss, 4-1 to Houston, on Sept. 14, and now guarantees the team a top 4 finish in the West regardless of what happens on “Decision Day.”
- Captain and MLS Golden Boot contender, Chicho Arango, remains tied with Álvaro Saborio for the all-time single-season franchise goalscoring record at 17 goals. Arango’s assist last Saturday was his first appearance on the scoresheet since July 6 at Atlanta United.
LINEUPS:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Zac MacMath; Javain Brown, Justen Glad ©, Philip Quinton, Alexandros Katranis; Nelson Palacio (Emeka Eneli, 71’), Braian Ojeda; Dominik Marczuk (Matt Crooks, 71’), Diogo Gonçalves (Andrew Brody, 86’), Diego Luna (Lachlan Brook, 86’); Anderson Julio (Chicho Arango, 55’)
Subs not used: Maikel Chang, Erik Holt, Gavin Beavers, Noel Caliskan
Head Coach: Pablo Mastroeni
San Jose Earthquakes (4-2-3-1): Daniel; Carlos Akapo, Tanner Beason, Rodrigues, Oscar Verhoeven (Vitor Costa, 75’); Jackson Yueill (Alfredo Morales, 75’), Niko Tsakiris (Preston Judd, 81’); Cristian Espinoza ©, Hernán López, Paul Marie (Amahl Pellegrino, 63’); Jeremy Ebobisse (Jack Skahan, 63’)
Subs not used: Bruno Wilson, Tommy Thompson, Daniel Munie, William Yarbrough
Head Coach: Ian Russell
Stats Summary: RSL / SJ
Shots: 14 / 5
Shots on Goal: 6 / 1
Saves: 1 / 5
Corner Kicks: 9 / 2
Fouls: 20 / 9
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL: Alex Katranis (Yellow Card - 45’)
RSL: Anderson Julio (Yellow Card - 53’)
RSL: Zac MacMath (Yellow Card - 85’)
RSL: Justen Glad (Yellow Card - 90’+5’)
