SANDY, Utah (Sunday, November 8, 2020) – Real Salt Lake (5-10-7, 22 points) fell 2-0 at the hands of Sporting Kansas City in a snowy Sunday night at Rio Tinto Stadium to close out its 16th season in Major League Soccer.
Nedum Onuoha featured in his final professional match while goalkeeper David Ochoa made four saves in his MLS debut.
Postgame Quotes from RSL v SKC.
As both teams felt out the game, both backlines were forced to adjust to the snowy field conditions as the ball stuck to the surface, making for awkward clearances and half chances. In the final minute of the second half, Sporting KC broke the deadlock when Ilie Sanchez skipped home a shot from the top of the six-yard box that trickled into the back of the net.
In the 48th minute, SKC doubled its advantage over RSL when Erik Hurtado rounded Ochoa to make it 2-0. Sporting KC nearly added to its advantage in the 66th minute but Gianluca Busio’s shot from inside the penalty area struck the near post and bounced away from danger.
In the waning minutes of the match, RSL threw numbers forward in search of a goal that wasn’t to be as the match ended 2-0.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
SKC: Ilie Sanchez 45th minute: From a corner kick, Johnny Russell’s service found the head of the runner at the near post that David Ochoa saved, but only into the path of Sanchez who tucked home the goal.
SKC: Erik Hurtado (Jaylin Lindsey) 48th minute: Springing Hurtado in at the corner of the penalty area, Lindsey found Hurtado who pushed the ball past the onrushing Ochoa before tucking the ball home into the empty net.
NOTES:
- Nedum Onuoha played in his final professional match, announcing this week that he will be retiring following the season. Onuoha exited the match to an ovation from the limited crowd in the 63rd minute.
- Goalkeeper Andrew Putna, midfielder Kyle Beckerman and forwards Giuseppe Rossi and Chris Garcia were not medically cleared to play.
- Midfielder Albert Rusnàk was unavailable while away on international duty. Slovakia will face Northern Ireland in the 2020 Euro Qualifying playoff on Thursday in Belfast.
- Goalkeeper David Ochoa made his MLS debut in the match.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs. Sporting Kansas City
Date: November 8, 2020
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Attendance: 2,770
Weather: Cloudy and 33 degrees
Scoring Summary:1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 0 0
Sporting Kansas City 1 1 2
SKC: Ilie Sanchez 45’
SKC: Erik Hurtado (Jaylin Lindsey) 48’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): David Ochoa; Aaron Herrera, Marcelo Silva, Nedum Onuoha (Justen Glad 63’), Donny Toia; Everton Luiz, Pablo Ruiz (Nick Besler 62’); Maikel Chang, Damir Kreilach, Justin Meram (Douglas Martinez 62’); Corey Baird
Subs not used: Zac MacMath, Erik Holt, Alvin Jones, Tate Schmitt, Justin Portillo, Milan Iloski
Sporting KC (4-5-1): Tim Melia; Jaylin Lindsey, Roberto Puncec, Winston Reid, Luis Martins; Roger Espinoza, Ilie Sanchez, Johnny Russell, Gianluca Busio (Felipe Hernandez 79’), Khiry Shelton; Gerso (Erik Hurtado HT)
Subs not used: John Pulskamp, Matt Besler, Andreu Fontas, Graham Smith, Cameron Duke, Wan Kuzain, Daniel Salloi
Stats Summary: RSL / SKC
Shots: 9 / 12
Shots on Goal: 3 / 6
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 5 / 8
Fouls: 8 / 6
Offside: 0 / 2
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
SKC: Luis Martins (caution) 39’
SKC: Johnny Russell (caution) 87’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistant Referees: Frank Anderson, Mike Rottersman
4th Official: Silviu Petrescu
VAR: Allen Chapman
AVAR: TJ Zablocki
