Carson, C.A. (Tuesday, July 4, 2017) – A pair of young RSL internationals - MF Albert Rusnák (Slovakia) and FW Jefferson Savarino (Venezuela) - combined for an offensive explosion as Real Salt Lake (6-12-2, 20 pts) set a new club mark for road goals in a 6-2 win against the LA Galaxy at the StubHub Center. RSL ended a five-match losing streak in Carson across reg. season and playoff action, dating back to a 1-0 win on March 8, 2014.
The Claret-and-Cobalt never trailed this evening as it improved to 2-8-1 on the road, opening the scoring in the 36th minute. Head Coach Mike Petke’s side pressured the hosts into a turnover near midfield. Rusnák dig the ball out, played a give-and-go with Luke Mulholland and the Slovakian international made the Galaxy pay with a curler past goalkeeper Clement Diop for his fourth goal of the campaign.
After LA equalized controversially in the 41st minute through DF Ashley Cole, RSL was again on the front foot and was determined to add one more before halftime. MF Kyle Beckerman hammered home a diving header on a corner kick provided by Rusnák, giving the visitors the 2-1 lead at the break.
After halftime, RSL pressed on. FW Yura Movsisyan bagged his sixth of the season on a cross from DF Demar Phillips. The finish capped off a sublime piece of play as Salt Lake moved the ball from side to side. Rusnák collected the secondary assist, switching the field to the Jamaican on the left side of the penalty area.
The highlight of the second-half outburst came from RSL’s Venezuelan dynamo, Savarino scoring his first goal for the Claret-and-Cobalt in the 73rd minute. After the Galaxy cleared a corner kick straight to his feet, Savarino danced past a defender and smashed home a goal-of-the-week candidate from the top of the box.
The 20-year old Savarino made it a brace just five minutes later when he tucked home a rebound coughed up by Diop. Rusnák again provided the opportunity, as his shot from distance forced Diop into the mistake.
In the 80th minute, RSL played right through the middle of the Galaxy midfield. FW Brooks Lennon launched FW Joao Plata forward. The Ecuadoran took a smart touch away from his defender and in on goal. Plata made Diop commit before gliding past him for his third finish of the season.
Bradford Jameison IV pulled one back on a misplayed clearance in the RSL penalty box in the 89th minute, but it was all too late for the hosts as the decision wasn’t in doubt.
GK Nick Rimando wasn’t called upon often, but the “Wall of the Wasatch” collected two saves and only faced five shots on target (12-5). Overall, Diop was the busier of the goalkeepers, seeing his defense concede 23 total shots (23-14).
UP NEXT: RSL regroups during the summer transfer window for the next two weeks before hosting world power Manchester United at Rio Tinto Stadium on Monday, July 17. Two days later, Petke’s club travels to face Portland Timbers in a Reizen to MLS action on Wednesday, July 19 (8:30 p.m. MT). Portland beat Salt Lake 1-0 in the last meeting between the two last September 10, 2016. RSL is 2-2-5 all-time against the Timbers in the Rose City, including a 1-0 win in the 2nd leg of the 2013 West Finals.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RSL -- Albert Rusnák (Luke Mulholland), 36th minute: Real Salt Lake’s pressure caused a turnover near midfield, and with the Galaxy out of position, Luke Mulholland found Albert Rusnák free behind Nathan Smith on the left side. The Slovakian curled his chance past Clement Diop.
LA -- Ashley Cole (Jose Villarreal), 41st minute: Jose Villareal clipped a ball over the RSL defense to Ashley Cole who made no mistake beating Nick Rimando.
RSL -- Kyle Beckerman (Albert Rusnák), 45+ minute: Kyle Beckerman was uncontested and unmarked at the edge of the six. The RSL captain powered his diving header past Diop.
RSL -- Yura Movsisyan (Demar Phillips, Albert Rusnák), 62nd minute: Demar Phillips put the finishing touches on a perfect run of play. Rusnák switched fields to the fullback on the left side of the penalty area. The Jamaican played it on the ground for Yura Movsisyan to tap in from six yards out.
RSL -- Jefferson Savarino, 73rd minute: On a RSL corner, LA Galaxy sent a defensive header straight to Jefferson Savarino at the top of the penalty box. The Venezuelan took a touch around a defender and ripped one past a diving Diop.
RSL -- Jefferson Savarino, 78th minute: The Venezuelan found himself in the right place at the right time. Albert Rusnák’s effort from distance was blocked by Diop, but it fell right to Savarino’s feet for the rebound.
RSL — Joao Plata (Brooks Lennon), 80th minute: RSL played right through the middle of the Galaxy midfield. Brooks Lennon launched Joao Plata forward, but the Ecuadorian took a smart touch away from his defender and in on goal. Plata made Diop commit before gliding past him for the finish.
LA -- Bradford Jamieson IV, 89th minute: Romain Alessandrini’s free kick was cleared to Bradford Jamieson in the box. He sent the clearance on goal. Rimando got a hand to the shot, but couldn’t keep it out.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
RSL -- Aaron Maund, 16th minute: At midfield, Jose Villarreal played in Emanuel Boateng in behind the defense on the left side. As Nick Rimando came out to rush the attacker, Boateng chipped the keeper, but Aaron Maund covered the space to clear it off the line.
LA -- Clement Diop, 25th minute: Joao Plata recycled the ball into the box after Albert Rusnák’s corner kick went long. Maund rose to meet the cross, but his effort went straight into the arms of Diop.
LA -- Clement Diop, 29th minute: Tony Beltran spotted Yura Movsisyan at the top of the six. Diop made an excellent reaction save off his face on Movsisyan’s glancing header.
LA -- Clement Diop, 66th minute: RSL was quick in transition as Jefferson Savarino sent in service from deep. Yura Movsisyan’s volley was stopped by Diop.
LA -- Clement Diop, 74th minute: Plata was in 1v1 on Diop, but the Galaxy goalkeeper came up huge off his line to deny the diminutive Ecuadorian.
RSL -- Nick Rimando, 76th minute: The substitute Ariel Lassiter served in Diallo a ball at the six, but the Wall of the Wasatch was there for the reaction save.
NOTES:
- RSL ended a five-match winless streak across all competitions at the StubHub Center and improved the club’s road reg. season mark to 7-10-1 overall against the Southern California foes.
- Albert Rusnák’s play marked the third match in which he’s recorded at least a goal and an assist. The Slovakian previously achieved the mark against Vancouver on April 8 with a one-goal, two- assist performance, and against New York City FC on May 17 with one of each. Rusnák now has four goals and seven assists on the season.
Match: Real Salt Lake at LA Galaxy
Date: July 4, 2017
Venue: StubHub Center; Carson, California
Attendance: 25,667
Weather: 67 degrees and Clear
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 2 4 6
LA Galaxy 1 1 2
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-3-3): Nick Rimando; Demar Phillips (Yura Movsisyan 69’), Justen Glad, Aaron Maund, Tony Beltran; Luke Mulholland, Kyle Beckerman, Albert Rusnák (Ricardo Velazco 84’); Jefferson Savarino, Yura Movsisyan (Brooks Lennon 71’), Joao Plata (Sebastian Saucedo 82’)
Subs not used: Lalo Fernandez, Chris Schuler, Chris Wingert, Danilo Acosta
Los Angeles Galaxy: (4-2-3-1): Clement Diop; Ashley Cole (Ariel Lassiter 67’), David Romney, Bradley Diallo, Nathan Smith; Joao Pedro, Jaime Villarreal; Emmanuel Boateng, Jose Villarreal (Jack McBean 73’), Bradford Jameison IV; Jack McInerney (Romain Alessandrini 46’)
Subs not used: Jon Kempin, Hugo Arellano, Rafael Garcia, Raul Mendiola
Stats Summary: RSL / LA
Shots: 23 / 14
Shots on Goal: 12 / 5
Saves: 2 / 6
Corner Kicks: 8 / 4
Fouls: 13 / 7
Offside: 4 / 1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
RSL -- Demar Phillips (Caution) - 26
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistant Referees: Kevin Klinger, Felisha Mariscal
4th Official: Baboucarr Jallow
