RSL Academy Suffers Defeats At The Hands Of LA Teams

RSL Academy vs. LAFC Academy, LA Galaxy Academy

March 4, 5 2023; Herriman Utah 

RSL Academy 2022/2023 Season Records: U-15 Team W14-8L-1D, U-17 Team 10W-6L-7D  

Real Salt Lake academy was once again at home this weekend, hosting both LAFC and LA Galaxy in MLS NEXT regular season play. 

U-17 

RSL 0 - 3 LAFC

On Saturday morning the U-17 squad took on Los Angeles FC, with multiple players being recalled from Monarchs including starting goalkeeper Blake Kelly. RSL’s first opportunity came in the 9th minute when Gershon Henry’s header narrowly missed the net. 12 minutes later LAFC’s goalkeeper came up big on a breakaway opportunity keeping the score level. The visitors’ high-octane attack broke through in the 24th minute to take a 1-0 lead. 

Despite being down at the half, RSL continued to match the energy and intensity of the opposition. However, in the 53rd minute after a controversial no-call in RSL’s attacking half, LAFC hit the counter attack and doubled its lead. A third goal in the 64th minute was the nail in the coffin as RSL fell 3-0. 

U-15

RSL 1 - 2 LAFC

The U-15s were tested early and often in the first half. Goalkeeper Rocco Von Marees made an important diving save on a free kick in the 13th minute. Just five minutes later however LAFC would open the scoring on a rocket from inside the 18-yard box. RSL continued to press looking for an equalizer, creating several near-miss chances. Armani Haro had an opportunity in front of the net but was unable to send his shot on target in the 22nd minute. Omar Marquez was persistent on the attack with multiple shots on goal, none of which could find the back of the net. Luca Moisa and Linkon Ream both fired shots wide of the goal as well. Haro got the last look of the first half for RSL, volleying a corner into the hands of the LAFC goalkeeper. In the dying seconds Von Marees came up big once again forcing the ball over the bar to keep the game at 1-0 entering the break. 

LAFC added a second goal in the 62nd minute leaving RSL fighting to stay in the match. Immediately after conceding, RSL created another flurry of chances, none of which would turn up fruitful. Camron Estala was sent off in the 76th minute for a sliding challenge, forcing the Claret-and-Cobalt to finish with 10 men. Finally in the 80th minute Lorenzo Tuch beat the goalkeeper on a bar-down shot to pull RSL within one, but it was too little too late. 

U-17

RSL 0-5 LA Galaxy

Sunday the RSL Academy’s U-17 side took on LA Galaxy. Both RSL and Galaxy came out playing aggressive attacking football getting in behind the defense. The LA Galaxy’s quick attacking style of play resulted in a shot on goal in the 2nd minute of the match but was saved by a diving Blake Kelly. LA Galaxy was successful on the counter-attack the entire first half and in the 12th minute the opposition headed in a goal from an uncontested cross. In the 23rd minute LA Galaxy was awarded a free kick and scored off the set piece. Only a few moments later RSL was awarded a Penalty Kick in the 27th minute after Jude Wellings was fouled in the box. Jude Wellings took the penalty to try and regain momentum for RSL, but the keeper correctly guessed the shot’s trajectory and made the save. Gershon Henry was awarded a red card in the 31st minute, leaving RSL to finish the game with only 10 men.  Nearing the end of the second half Galaxy took advantage of the short handed RSL side and scored on the counterattack once again in the 37th minute. 

The U-17’s entered the second half trailing 0-3 but continued to play unrelenting attacking football. In the 81st minute Blake Kelly made a great deflection preventing a goal, yet the save landed at the feet of the Galaxy’s forwards who fired the ball into the back of the net. Galaxy extended their lead in added time to make it 5. 

U-15

RSL 1-3 LA Galaxy

The U-15’s faced LA Galaxy Sunday morning and looked to improve upon their Saturday performance. RSL came out at the start of the game creating multiple scoring chances. In the 24th minute Lorenzo Tuch had a shot on goal after beating his defender with a feint but Galaxy’s goalkeeper made a sliding save at the last moment to stop the shot. After an impressive save in the 38th minute by Rocco Van Marees, Galaxy was awarded a corner which connected with the opposition for a header finding the back of the net. Galaxy attempted to score directly from a freekick in the 40th minute, swerving the ball into goal but Marees made another impressive save deflecting the ball. The deflection unluckily resulted in Galaxy’s possession and was hastily struck into goal. The first half ended with the Claret-and-Cobalt down 0-2.

At the beginning of the second half substitutions were made by the U-15 squad to reinvigorate Real Salt Lake. Minutes into the second half substitute Peter Beyene took the ball into the box after beating Galaxy’s defenders. Beyene beat the keeper after faking a shot and fired the ball into goal in the 48th minute. After regaining some confidence the U-15’s began to play aggressive football. In the 57th minute Lorenzo Tuch was fouled on the left wing and awarded a free kick. Peter Beyene took the free kick and attempted to even the score but the shot deflected off the goalpost into the keeper's possession. In the 65th minute Van Parker attempted a bicycle kick but was unaware of the presence of a marking defender and struck the player with his foot. Parker was awarded a red card which swung momentum back into Galaxy’s favor. Only three minutes after RSL was forced to play with 10 men, Galaxy scored in the 68th minute which would prove to be the final goal of the game handing RSL a 1-3 loss.