REAL SALT LAKE OUTLAST NEW YORK CITY FC 3-1
MF Albert Rusnák’s Eighth Goal of the Year the Winner; RSL Moves to 6th in Western Conference
SANDY, Utah (Saturday, August 3, 2019) – Real Salt Lake (10-9-4, 34 points) claimed a 3-1 victory over New York City FC on Saturday night to mark its first come-from-behind victory of the 2019 season.
FW Jefferson Savarino, MFs Albert Rusnák and MF Nick Besler all notched goals in the win and GK Nick Rimando returned from the MLS All-Star Game to make six saves in the victory.
Postgame quotes from RSL v NYCFC.
NYCFC struck first as Alexander Ring fired a left-footed rocket into the bottom corner of the net just four minutes into the match to put RSL in an early hole. RSL clawed its way back into the match, generating multiple opportunities to level the match. The equalizer came in the 37th minute when Savarino fired a strong left-footed shot from inside the box that easily found the roof of the net to send the teams to the locker rooms knotted at a goal apiece.
In the second half, RSL took control of the game and found the go-ahead goal when Rusnák hammered a shot from outside the penalty area that beat Sean Johnson in the NYCFC net in the 75th minute. RSL didn’t let off the gas after it went ahead and found a third in the 88th minute when Besler’s flicked effort from inside the box found its way into the far side-netting to seal the match at 3-1.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake now faces Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, August 3 at 6:30p MT from Children’s Mercy Park.
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:
NYCFC: Alexander Ring (Anton Tinnerholm), 4th minute: A giveaway at the back from RSL saw Tinnerholm send a pass to Ring to took a touch before turning to fire a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner of the net.
RSL: Jefferson Savarino (Kyle Beckerman, Albert Rusnák), 37th minute: A quick series of passing around the top of the area saw a ball from Beckerman find the run of Savarino inside the area. Savarino took a touch before firing a left-footed rocket into the roof of the net for the equalizer.
RSL: Albert Rusnák (Kyle Beckerman), 75th minute: Receiving a pass from Beckerman outside the penalty area, Rusnák took a touch to create space to his right. The Slovakian lined up a shot between two defenders before unleashing a rocket that beat Sean Johnson at the near post for the go-ahead goal.
RSL: Nick Besler (Jefferson Savarino), 88th minute: From a corner kick, the ball popped out to Savarino just inside the penalty area where he attempted a first-time volley. His shot skipped off the grass as Besler reacted well, throwing his heel at the ball to redirect it into the back of the net.
NOTES:
- DF Tony Beltran (knee) and FW Sam Johnson (quad) were out of action due to injury.
- When DF Justen Glad and DF Marcelo Silva start alongside each other and play 90 minutes, RSL is now 13-6-8 with nine shutouts and a 1.07 goals against average since Silva’s arrival in July of 2017.
- After his goal on Saturday, RSL is now 18-2-2 when MF Albert Rusnák scores since his arrival prior to the 2017 season.
- GK Nick Rimando and GK David Ochoa returned from Orlando, where Rimando participated in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday and Ochoa was in the MLS Homegrown Game and played in net for the MLS Skills Challenge on Tuesday.
- Assistant Coach Freddy Juarez served as acting head coach while Head Coach Mike Petke served the second match of a three-game suspension.
- With his first-half yellow card, MF Everton Luiz will be suspended for next week’s match on the road against Sporting Kansas City due to yellow card accumulation.
- The match marked the first come-from-behind victory for RSL in 2019.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs New York City FC
Date: August 3, 2019
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 18,282
Weather: Sunny and 90 degrees
Scoring Summary:1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 2 3
NYCFC 1 0 1
NYCFC: Alexander Ring (Anton Tinnerholm) 4’
RSL: Jefferson Savarino (Kyle Beckerman, Albert Rusnák) 37’
RSL: Albert Rusnák (Kyle Beckerman) 75’
RSL: Nick Besler (Jefferson Savarino) 88’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Aaron Herrera, Marcelo Silva, Justen Glad, Donny Toia; Everton Luiz, Kyle Beckerman; Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnák (Joao Plata, 83’)Corey Baird (Sebastian Saucedo, 76’); Damir Kreilach.
Subs not used: David Ochoa, Brooks Lennon, Nedum Onuoha, Nick Besler, Tate Schmitt, Corey Baird
NYCFC: (3-2-3-1): Sean Johnson; Maxime Chanot, James Sands, Ben Sweat (Sebastien Ibeagha, 17’); Anton Tinnerholm, Alexander Ring, Ebenezer Ofori (Gary Mackay-Steven, 78’), Ronald Matarrita; Valentin Castellanos (Keaton Parks, 64’), Heber, Alexandru Mitrita
Subs not used: Brad Stuver, Eric Miller, Jesus Medina, Tony Rocha
Stats Summary: RSL / NYCFC
Shots: 13 / 11
Shots on Goal: 4 / 7
Saves: 6 / 1
Corner Kicks: 8 / 8
Fouls: 12 / 11
Offside: 3 / 0
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
NYCFC – James Sands (caution) 28’
RSL – Everton Luiz (caution) 45’+2
RSL – Kyle Beckerman (caution) 68’
NYCFC – Alexander Ring (caution) 74’
NYCFC – Ronald Matarrita (caution) 90’+2
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Tim Ford
Assistant Referees: Brian Poeschel, Michael Kampmeinert
4th Official: David Barrie
VAR: Alejandro Mariscal
AVAR: Jonathan Johnson
