America First Stadium, Sandy, UT – Real Salt Lake took over the match in the second half with three goals in six minutes to win 3-1 for their first home win this season. It was the first time that RSL and Charlotte FC have gone head to head and the home team showed them why America First Field is one of the hardest places to play in all of MLS
RSL looked sharp in the first half with multiple shots on goal however George Marks came up big over and over again to keep them out of the net and it started feeling like the last couple of weeks when in the 27th minute Karol Swiderski was able to get a shot from just inside the box and put it past MacMath. There was a glimmer of hope with RSL leading the visitors in shots but no one expected what would happen after the break
When Pablu Ruiz shot from beyond the box and finally got past Marks in the 56th minute the fans went crazy and Ruiz showed how ecstatic he was in his celebration with the fans. The goal lit a fire under the home club and it was soon followed by goas from Anderson Julio and Jefferson Savarino over the next 6 minutes.
Tonight’s goals were the first of the season for all three players and matched the total tally for the first five matches so far this season.
The barrage of goals tonight was the second fastest that the Claret and Cobalt have ever scored three goals, the fastest was on Sept 19, 2014 vs Colorado with Joao Plata, Javier Morales and Chris Schuler doing it in just 5 minutes. Tonights goal from Pablo Ruiz puts an end to a 304 minute stretch with no goals.
RSL travels to Frisco, Texas to take on FC Dallas next Saturday then returns home to host the San Jose Earthquakes on April 22 at 7:30 PM.
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 3 3
Charlotte FC 1 0 1
Scoring Summary
CTL – Karol Swiderski – 23′
RSL – Pablo Ruiz – 56′
RSL – Anderson Julio – 59′
RSL – Jefferson Savarino – 62′
Misconduct Summary
CTL – Ben Bender – 13′ – unsporting behavior
RSL – Brayan Vera – 23′ – unsporting behavior
CTL – Harrison Afful – 42′ – unsporting behavior
CTL – Kamil Jazwiak – 48′ – unsporting behavior
RSL – Justen Glad – 70′ – unsporting behavior
Officials
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistant Referee: Jeremy Hanson
Assistant Referee: Felisha Mariscal
4th Official: Elvis Osmonovic
Video Assistant Referee: Younes Marrakchi
AVAR: Fabio Tovar
Attendence: 17,506
Lineups
Real Salt Lake: Zac MacMath; Andrew Brody; Justen Glad; Marcelo Silva; Brayan Vera (Maikel Chang, 74′); Jefferson Savarino (Diego Luna, 83′); Pablo Ruiz; Jasper Loffelsend (Braian Ojeda, 84′); Carlos Gomez (Bode Hidalgo, 68′) Rubio Rubin; Anderson Julio (Ilihah Paul, 68′)
Substitutes Not Used: Justin Meram; Deletz Pierre; Emeka Eneli; Gavin Beavers
Coach: Pablo Mastroeni
Charlotte FC: George Marks; Bill Tuiloma; Jaylin Lindsey (Brandon Cambridge, 77′); Harrison Afful; Adison Malanda; Kamil Jazwiak (Vinicius Mello, 77′); Brandt Bronico; Ben Bender (Derrick Jones, 68′); Enzo Copetti; Karol Swiderski (Chris Hegardt, 68′); Kerwin Vargas (Andrew Shinyashiki, 66′)
Substitutes Not Used: Nathan Byrne; Pablo Sisniega; joseph Mora; Nuno Santos
Coach: Christian Lattanzio