Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT – Real Salt Lake returned to play at Rio Tinto Stadium against the LA Galaxy and they finally look like the team we saw at the start of the season. With 2 second half goals from Albert Rusnak and Damir Kreilach the home club took the full 3 points on a night that saw plenty of what we had all been expecting from the last 2 disappointing matches.
The first half was full of exciting play as both clubs did a nice job of moving the ball through midfield however Real Salt Lake seemed to have the edge on multiple trips into the box as they tested David Bingham in the goal. For the first 45 minutes the LA defenders were able to hold off the pressing attack and they hit the locker room without either club able to get an advantage.
In the 61st minute the Galaxy had their best chance Rolf Feltscher took a shot that Putna was able to block but not clear and Feltscher then tries a through ball to Chicharito who was in an offside position. This was enough to really light the fires under RSL when in the 64th minute David Bingham had to come off his line and take down Justen Meram to deny him a shot on goal that resulted in him seeing yellow and Albert Rusnak putting the Penalty Kick away to put the Claret and Cobalt on top 1-0. Damir Kreilach bagged the insurance goal and his sixth of the season in the 72nd minute. LA put up a good fight for the remainder of the match but the RSL defense was too much for them leaving them to go home to California with no result.
Both clubs are without a midfielder due to ejections last match. Kyle Beckerman was sent off after his second yellow in a dismal effort that saw Vancouver leave Rio Tinto with their first ever win against RSL and Julian Araujo was send off when he saw his second yellow in a losing effort against the Colorado Rapids.
Albert Rusnak was the real standout tonight with a goal from his PK effort an assist, three shots with two of them on frame.
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 0 2 2
LA Galaxy 0 0 0
Scoring Summary:
RSL – Albert Rusnak – 65′
RSL – Damir Kreilach – 72′
Misconduct Summary:
LAG – Nicholas DuPuy – 24′ – unsporting behavior
RSL – Corey Baird – 62′ – unsporting behavior
LAG – David Bingham – 64′ – unsporting behavior (PK)
Officials
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Assistant Referee: Claudiu Badea
Assistant Referee: TJ Zablocki
4th Official: Nima Saghafi
Video Assistant Referee: Edvin Jurisevic
Attendence: 3943
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake: Andrew Putna; Aaron Herrera; Nedum Onuoha; Justen Glad; Donny Toia; Pablo Ruiz; Everton Luiz; Albert Rusnak; Jutin Meram (Maikel Chang, 75′); Corey Baird (Douglas Martinez, 75′); Damir Kreilach
Substitutes Not Used: Zac MacMath; Erik Holt; Justin Portillo; Nick Besler; Christopher Garcia; Sam Johnson; Jeizon Ramirez
LA Galaxy: David Bingham; Rolf Feltscher; Daniel Steres; Nicholas DePuy; Emiliano Insua; Perry Kitchen; Jonathan dos Santos (Joe Corona, 73′); Emil Cuello (Efrain Alverez, 57′); Sebastian Lletget (Cameron Dunbar, 81′); Christian Pavon; Chicharito (Ethan Zubak, 80′)
Substitutes Not Used: Jonathan Klinsmann; Deidie Traore; Sacha Kljestan; Carlos Harvey
Next up for RSL
Real Salt Lake takes another trip up north with another try to take down the Minnesota United FC on Sunday September 27th at 6:00 PM MT.