Sandy, Utah (Saturday, June 17, 2017) – Real Salt Lake (5-10-2, 17 pts) left the game late against expansion side Minnesota United FC at Rio Tinto Stadium as it defeated the Loons 1-0 courtesy of an 85th minute tally from FW Yura Movsisyan.
The match against Minnesota saw the home crowd give a warm welcome back to U.S. U-20 World Cup members DFs Justen Glad and Danilo Acosta and FWs Brooks Lennon and Sebastian Saucedo as all four featured in the match.
The first half of action saw RSL maintain most of the possession and chances as MF Jefferson Savarino and FW Luis Silva forced save-after-save from Minnesota goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
In the second 45 minutes RSL upped the tempo of the attack even higher as they threw numbers forward in waves. FW Joao Plata and MF Luke Mulholland again forced save-after-save out of the Loons goalkeeper but it was Movsisyan who made the difference when he entered the match for Silva for the final 20 minutes.
Movsisyan tagged his fifth goal of 2017 while GK Nick Rimando earned his 133rd career shutout in the win.
UP NEXT: RSL will travel to Northern California for a matchup against the San Jose Earthquakes on June 24 (8:30 pm MST kickoff). This will be the first meeting of 2017 between the two sides as RSL looks to avenge a record of 0-1-1 against the Quakes when they drew at Rio Tinto Stadium in late July and lost at Avaya Stadium in early October in the 2016 season. The game will be the first of two matches between the sides in 2017.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RSL – Yura Movsisyan, 85th minute: A headed effort from RSL defender Justen Glad had everyone on the field asking for a handball on a Minnesota defender in the box. As the ball fell to Minnesota goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth, he lost sight of it as it clamored off his hands and fell to the feet of Movsisyan who poked home from close range.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
MINN – Bobby Shuttleworth, 4th minute: An early chance from RSL’s Jefferson Savarino forced the United goalkeeper into an early save, diving low to his left to deny the Venezuelan’s first-time shot from 20 yards.
MINN – Bobby Shuttleworth, 24th minute: Good interchanging play for RSL near the top of the area allowed striker Luis Silva to hit a shot from just inside the area forcing Shuttleworth into a fine diving save to concede a corner.
MINN – Sam Cronin, 25th minute: RSL striker Luis Silva found himself alone in the area after receiving a ball from Joao Plata. Silva beat the Minnesota goalkeeper for a chance at an open net but Cronin did well to time his sliding tackle to knock the ball away.
MINN – Bobby Shuttleworth, 76th minute: A deflected pass inside the box saw the ball fall to RSL striker Joao Plata 18 yards from goal. Plata elected to chest back to RSL midfielder Luke Mulholland as he rifled a volley towards the far post but Shuttleworth did well to tip the shot over the bar.
NOTES:
- RSL men Justen Glad, Brooks Lennon, Danilo Acosta and Sebastian Saucedo all returned from the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Glad, Lennon and Acosta all started the match while Saucedo entered as a second half substitute.
- Glad made his first appearance of the season for RSL after leaving for international duty and battling injuries to delay his 2017 debut.
- Goalkeeper Nick Rimando also made his return to the starting XI after missing time with the club for being with the USMNT during World Cup Qualifying, celebrating his 38th birthday on Saturday, as well.
- RSL netminder Nick Rimando recorded shutout number 133 to add to his building career total.
- RSL registered 29 total shots against Minnesota, a season high.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs Minnesota United
Date: June 17, 2017
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 19,256
Weather: Clear and 79 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 1 1
Minnesota United 0 0 0
RSL – Yura Movsisyan 85’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Tony Beltran, Justen Glad, Aaron Maund, Danilo Acosta (Sebastian Saucedo, 79’); Kyle Beckerman, Luke Mulholland; Brooks Lennon, Jefferson Savarino, Joao Plata (Chris Wingert, 87’); Luis Silva (Yura Movsisyan, 70’)
Subs not used: Matt VanOekel, Omar Holness, David Horst, Ricardo Velazco
Minnesota United: (4-3-3): Bobby Shuttleworth; Jerome Theisson, Fransisco Calvo, Brent Kallman, Kevin Venegas; Ibson, Miguel Ibarra, Kevin Molino, Sam Cronin; Abu Danladi (Rasmus Schuller,79’), Christian Ramirez
Subs not used: Patrick McLain, Collin Martin, Jermaine Taylor, Collen Warner
Stats Summary: RSL/MINN
Shots: 29 / 5
Shots on Goal: 9 / 1
Saves: 1 / 8
Corner Kicks: 10 / 3
Fouls: 17 / 9
Offside: 2 / 6
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
MINN – Brent Kallman (caution) 21’
RSL – Kyle Beckerman (caution) 75’
MINN – Ibson (caution) 86’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Marco de Oliveira
Assistant Referees: Corey Parker, Eric Weisbrod
4th Official: Juan Guzman
