America First Field, Sandy, UT – Real Salt Lake got a little payback tonight with a 3-2 victory over the LA Galaxy to advance to the 2023 Lamar Hunt Open Cup Semi Finals. With a near perfect first half RSL led early with 2 goals from Damir Kreilach. Adding to the lead early in the second half helped the home club survive the late push by the Galaxy to secure the win and to stay in the hunt for the Open Cup.
The Claret and Cobalt started off strong with the captain putting his club on the board first with a strike in the 19th minute. Things were not going in favor of the Galaxy with Chicharito making an early exit with an injury in the 27th minute and this just added to the advantage that the home club kept in the half. At the very end of stoppage time Kreilach made it a brace with a Penalty Kick that was just too much for Jonathan Bond.
Jefferson Savarino added to the lead with what would end up being the match winner with a shot in the 51st minute but things looked like they may be in doubt with a late push from the Galaxy with 2 goals in just 2 minutes.
With 7 minutes of stoppage time it was a nail-biter but in the end the Claret and Cobalt hang on for the victory.
This was the first home match for RSL in the Open Cup and their next match is again at home against the Houston Dynamo on August 23rd.
This is only the second time Real Salt Lake has made it this far as one of the last four clubs vying for the Open Cup.
Next up in League play is at home against New York Football Club this Saturday at 7:30 PM.
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 2 1 3
LA Galaxy 0 2 3
Scoring Summary
RSL – Damir Kreilach – 19′
RSL – Damir Kreilach – 45’+7′ (PK)
RSL – Jefferson Savarino – 51′
LAG – Gaston Brugman – 82′ (PK)
LAG – Douglas Costas – 84′
Misconduct Summary
RSL – Justin Glad – 32′ – foul
RSL – Damir Kreilach – 56′ – foul
LAG – Jalen Neal – 59′ – foul
RSL – Emeka Eneli – 61′ – foul
Officials
Referee: Ramy Touchan
Assistant Referee: Cameron Blanchard
Assistant Referee: Walter Heatherly
4th Official: Brad Jensen
Lineups
Real Salt Lake: Gavin Beavers; Andrew Brody; Emeka Eneli; Justen Glad; Andres Gomez (Bode Hidalgo, 83′); Damir Kreilach; Rubio Rubin (Anderson Julio, 66′); Bryan Oviedo (Braian Ojeda, 66′); Pablo Ruiz (Jasper Loffelsend, 86′); Jefferson Savarino (Maikel Chang, 66′); Marcelo Silva
Substitutes Not Used: Zac MacMath; Brayan Vera
LA Galaxy: Julian Aude (Raheem Edwards, 62′); Tyler Boyd; Gaston Brugman; Jose Caceres; Lucas Calegari; Marco Delgado (Daniel Aguirre, 62′); Chicarito (Dejan Joveljic, 27′); Jonathan Klinsman; Jalen Neal (Chris Mavinga, 74′); Ricard Puig; Gino Vivi (Douglas Costa, 62′)
Substitutes Not Used: Jonathaan Bond; Kelvin Leerdam