Yura Movsisyan – Photo Rob Gray
Minneapolis, MN (Saturday, April 1, 2017) – Real Salt Lake (0-3-2, 2 points, 10th West) couldn’t capitalize on an early MF Luke Mulholland goal as Minnesota ran rampant with four unanswered goals to take all three points at TCF Bank Stadium in the expansion team’s first-ever Major League Soccer victory.
RSL opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Mulholland’s first goal of the season. DF Chris Wingert attempted a cross that was cleared no further than the feet of the former Minnesota Star (2011), who needed only one touch to tuck the ball home into the far corner.
Kyle Beckerman – Photo Rob Gray
Just nine minutes later, RSL’s defense was derailed when DF Aaron Maund sustained a left hamstring strain and was replaced by MF Sunny, forcing Mulholland to the right back spot and Wingert into a centerback position. Three minutes later, Minnesota found their goal when MF Kevin Molino headed home the Loons’ first goal of the night.
The 1-1 halftime scoreline gave way quickly in the second half, when Molino set up Christian Ramirez for the go-ahead goal in the 52nd minute, chipping the ball over an onrushing GK Nick Rimando. Minnesota added to their lead just 10 minutes later when Rimando misplayed the ball at his feet and was dispossessed just outside the box to increase Minnesota’s lead to 3-1.
As RSL looked to get up the field and find chances on frame, DF Justin Schmidt was intercepted by Molino, who drew Rimando off his line and slid the ball to Johan Venegas, who tapped home the Loons’ fourth goal of the night.
RSL pulled a goal back just two minutes from regulation time, when MF Luis Silva found FW Yura Movsisyanover the MNUFC defense and in on goal. Movsisyan slotted home his second of the season for the consolation goal.
RSL’s active winless streak on artificial surfaces was extended to 17 games in interim head coach Daryl Shore’s second match as interim head coach since Jeff Cassar’s March 20 dismissal. RSL is now 0-2-3 through the first five games this season, with newly appointed Head Coach Mike Petke kicking off coaching duties Monday.
UP NEXT: RSL returns home to take on Western Conference foe Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, April 8 (7:30 p.m. MT kickoff) in Sandy. RSL is 4-6-4 all time against the Cascadia side, with a 3-1-3 mark against the British Columbian side at Rio Tinto Stadium.
GOAL-SCORING RUNDOWN:
RSL – Luke Mulholland 4th minute: Wide play from RSL led to a cross into the box that resulted in a deflected defensive header from Minnesota. Mulholland pounced on the loose ball inside the box and slotted the ball home into the bottom corner.
MNUFC – Kevin Molino 20th minute: Well-worked wide play saw midfielder Johan Venegas able to beat an RSL defender and get a cross away. The ball deflected and fell right to the head of Minnesota midfielder Kevin Molino, who headed the ball past Rimando and into the net.
MNUFC – Christian Ramirez (Kevin Molino) 52nd minute: Sustained possession from the Loons helped Kevin Molino receive the ball in the attacking half. Molino maneuvered his way through several RSL defenders to play a beautifully weighted through ball to Ramirez, who latched onto the pass and chipped the ball up and over an onrushing Nick Rimando.
MNUFC – Christian Ramirez 62nd minute: A long ball over the entire RSL defense was chested down by Nick Rimando outside of his penalty area. As Rimando attempted a turn to play the ball wide, the ball got caught up under Rimando’s feet under the pressure from Ramirez, who won the ball and slammed it into an empty net.
MNUFC – Johan Venegas (Kevin Molino) 69th minute: RSL defender Justin Schmidt saw his pass intercepted by Kevin Molino, which put RSL in a defensive 1v3 situation. Molino picked the ball up and dribbled toward Nick Rimando. As Rimando came off his line, Molino slid the ball to Venegas who tapped home from ten yards.
RSL – Yura Movsisyan (Luis Silva) 88th minute: Luis Silva played a wonderfully-weighted ball over the Minnesota defense to Movsisyan, who took the ball in stride to create a shot for himself. Yura’s blast found the far side netting past an outstretched Shuttleworth for the Armenian international’s second goal of the year.
KEY SAVES AND DEFENSIVE STOPS:
RSL – Chris Wingert 41st minute: A counterattack saw the ball fall to Minnesota midfielder Collen Warner streaking towards the RSL goal. Warner attempted to play the ball across the box to Christian Ramirez but RSL defender Chris Wingert broke up the play and give away a corner.
RSL – Nick Rimando 45th minute: An errant cross from Minnesota midfielder Christian Ramirez forced Nick Rimando to parry away an awkward ball destined for the top corner of the net.
RSL – Nick Rimando 58th minute: A long ball over Luke Mulholland’s head saw the ball fall to the feet of Christian Ramirez. Ramirez brought the ball towards the goal and fired a powerful shot towards Rimando’s far post but Rimando got a strong left hand to the shot and parry it away.
MNUFC – Bobby Shuttleworth 74th minute: Joao Plata whipped in an attempted cross that became a shot that had Bobby Shuttleworth back-peddling. Shuttleworth got his feet and parrying the ball up and over the bar and out for a corner kick.
NOTES:
- RSL returned three players from international duty and suspension from the March 25 matchup against the Red Bulls. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando and midfielder Albert Rusnak both returned from international duty with the United States and Slovakia respectively, while Captain Kyle Beckerman made his return from suspension that was handed down in RSL’s March 18 loss to the LA Galaxy.
- RSL sought its first win on artificial surface since November of 2013, the 2nd leg of that year’s Western Conference Final series against the Portland Timbers. RSL is now 0-12-5 (W-L-T) since that juncture.
- RSL is now winless in their last 13 games in all competitions dating back to a 2-1 win over Rocky Mountain rival Colorado Rapids last August 26.
Match: Real Salt Lake at Minnesota United FC
Date: April 1, 2017
Venue: TCF Bank Stadium; Minneapolis, Minnesota
Attendance: 17,728
Weather: Cloudy and 55 degrees
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 3 4
Minnesota United FC 1 1 2
RSL – Luke Mulholland 4’
MNUFC – Kevin Molino 20’
MNUFC – Christian Ramirez (Kevin Molino) 52’
MNUFC – Christian Ramirez 62’
MNUFC – Johan Venegas (Kevin Molino) 68’
RSL – Yura Movsisyan (Luis Silva) 88’
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Nick Rimando; Chris Wingert, Justin Schmidt, Aaron Maund (Sunny 13’), Demar Phillips; Kyle Beckerman, Luke Mulholland (Joao Plata 60’); Albert Rusnak, Brooks Lennon, Sebastian Saucedo (Luis Silva 77’); Yura Movsisyan
Subs not used: Matt VanOekel, Danilo Acosta, Jose Hernandez, Ricardo Velazco
Minnesota United FC: (4-2-3-1): Bobby Shuttleworth; Jerome Thiesson, Brent Kallman, Francisco Calvo, Justin Davis; Collen Warner, Ibson; Kevin Molino (Miguel Ibarra 80’), Johan Venegas (Rasmus Schuller 90’), Bashkim Kadrii; Christian Ramirez (Abu Danladi 77’)
Subs not used: John Alvbage, Jermaine Taylor, Vadim Demidov, Ismalia Jome
Stats Summary: MNUFC / RSL
Shots: 19 / 11
Shots on Goal: 9 / 5
Saves: 3 / 5
Corner Kicks: 6 / 6
Fouls: 8 / 16
Offside: 3 / 1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
MNUFC – Kevin Molino (caution) 20’
MNUFC – Fransisco Calvo (caution) 34’
RSL – Yura Movsisyan (caution) 49’
OFFICIALS:
Referee: Armando Villareal
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Hanson, Richard Gamache
4th Official: Daniel Radford