SANDY, Utah (Friday, June 18, 2021) – Real Salt Lake (3-1-3, 12 points) used a late surge to claim a 3-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Friday night in front of 15,109 fans at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Damir Kreilach notched two goals in the match to bring his team-leading tally to five goals in 2021 while Erik Holt’s game-winning header secured the full three points for RSL.
RSL jumped out to a fast start and nearly found the game’s opening goal when Anderson Julio had a breakaway effort saved well by ‘Caps goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau inside the six-yard box in the 5th minute. RSL was able to limit Vancouver’s opportunities throughout the first half of play and finally broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute when Kreilach’s low shot deflected off of Andy Rose and past Crepeau before hitting the back of the net.
Vancouver drew the game level in the 55th minute after applying pressure to RSL’s backline early in the second half that resulted in a goal from Brian White, whose one-touch finish at the back post beat David Ochoa. After multiple stoppages in play late in the second half, seven minutes of added time were announced as RSL pressed for the winner.
The winner came via a headed effort from Holt who latched onto a throw-in from Aaron Herrera for the 2-1 lead two minutes into stoppage time. Kreilach added the insurance goal just three minutes later when his diving header crept into the back of the net in the fifth minute of stoppage time to solidify the 3-1 victory.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake will face Seattle Sounders FC on Wednesday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. MT at Lumen Field.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Albert Rusnák, Andrew Brody) 43rd minute: A quick move down the left side saw Brody fire a pass to the top of the penalty area that Rusnák cleverly heel-flicked to Kreilach whose low shot deflected off a defender and into the back of the net.
VAN: Brian White (Javain Brown) 55th minute: Turning the ball over in a wide position, Brown swung in a low cross to White at the back post who tucked the ball past Ochoa in the RSL goal to bring the game level.
RSL: Erik Holt (Aaron Herrera) 90+2nd minute: In stoppage time Herrera sent a long throw in towards goals where Holt rose up, flicking the ball with his head behind him and into the bottom left corner of goal to take the lead.
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Justin Meram, Aaron Herrera) 90+5th minute: Receiving the ball near the right touchline, Meram sent a long ball into the center of the box where Kreilach made a diving header to slip it in underneath Vancouver’s goalkeeper and into the net.
NOTES:
- Midfielder Everton Luiz returned to the field after missing the previous five matches with a knee injury, coming on as a second-half substitute.
- Forward Bobby Wood was not available as he continues to build fitness and sharpness after his arrival from Germany’s Hamburg.
- Defender Toni Datković and winger Jonathan Menéndez were not available as they await their immigration to the U.S.
- Real Salt Lake had four RSL Academy products in the XI and six on the 20-man roster. Additionally, five players on the 20-man roster were previously signed to the Monarchs.
- Prior to the match, RSL and Whitecaps FC unveiled a Juneteenth holiday inspired tifo. The Black National Anthem was also sung prior to kickoff of the match.
Match: Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Date: June 18, 2021
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium; Sandy, Utah
Weather: Sunny and 91 Degrees
Attendance: 15,109
Scoring Summary:1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 2 3
Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 1 1
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Albert Rusnák, Andrew Brody) 43’
VAN: Brian White (Javain Brown) 55’
RSL: Erik Holt (Aaron Herrera) 90+2’
RSL: Damir Kreilach (Justin Meram, Aaron Herrera) 90+5’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): David Ochoa; Aaron Herrera, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva (Erik Holt 68’), Andrew Brody; Nick Besler, Pablo Ruiz (Everton Luiz 80’); Albert Rusnak, Damir Kreilach, Anderson Julio (Justin Meram 68’); Rubio Rubin (Douglas Martinez 90+6’)
Subs not used: Zac MacMath, Donny Toia, Ashtone Morgan, Justin Portillo, Maikel Chang,
Vancouver Whitecaps FC (4-4-2): Maxime Crepeau; Cristian Gutierrez (Russel Teibert 84’), Andy Rose, Erik Godoy, Javain Brown; Deiber Caicedo (Derek Cornelius 86’), Caio Alexandre, Janio Bikel, Michael Baldisimo; Cristian Dajome, Brian White (Lucas Cavallini 61’)
Subs not used: Thomas Hasal, Rank Veselinovic, Leonard Owusu, Ryan Raposo, Patrick Metcalf
Stats Summary: RSL / VAN
Shots: 10 / 13
Shots on Goal: 6 / 2
Saves: 1 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 2
Fouls: 11 / 8
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
VAN: Javain Brown (caution) 3’
RSL: Marcelo Silva (caution) 12’
RSL: Justin Meram (caution) 85’
RSL: Erik Holt (caution) 90’+7
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
Assistant Referees: Jason White, Jeremy Kieso
4th Official: Victor Rivas
VAR: Dave Gantar
AVAR: Fabio Tovar
