Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT – In a match full of excitement Real Salt Lake takes care of business against Nashville SC and moves to the top of the table in the West. With the quick goal from Bobby Wood RSL appeared primed to take over the match after a goal from Walker Zimmerman midway through the first half the affair was left unsettled until Tate Schmitt put away the game winner shortly after the break to give his club the win as well as the full 3 points and keeps RSL undefeated in this young season.
Real Salt Lake got things started fast tonight after an early corner and a cross from Justin Meram led to a header from Bobby Wood who crossed the box unmarked in the 2nd minute of play. The crowd stayed clearing behind their club even after Walter Zimmerman leveled the score in the 25th minute. It was a tale of the set pieces in the first half and both goals coming of set pieces and kept both keepers busy with the 10 shots from RSL and 16 shots from Nashville.
With no changes at the half way point the second half looked a lot like the first and included the best chance for Nashville with a shot from Dan Lovitz that gave the crowd a scare as it connected with the post but it was the Claret and Cobalt that were able to finished when for the second week in a row Tate Schmitt found the back of the net in the 56th minute. Both clubs pushed hard until the final whistle that saw Dax McCarty receive his first yellow in the 3rd minute of stoppage time and then his second along with a Red in the final seconds of the match.
Tate Schmitt has now scored two goals this season and in his MLS career as well as having the game winner in both matches. With Nashville taking 16 shots and 8 of them on goal Zac MacMath really stepped up and did his part to keep RSL on top tonight. After being shown a red card Dax McCarty will miss their next match against Columbus on April 2nd.
Real Salt Lake is one of the few clubs in action next week when they travel to Children’s Mercy Park to meet up with the struggling Sporting Kansas City on Saturday March 26th.
Goals by Period 1 2 F
Real Salt Lake 1 1 2
Nashville SC 1 0 1
Scoring Summary:
RSL – Bobby Wood – 2′
NSH – Walker Zimmerman – 25′
RSL – Tate Schmitt – 54′
Misconduct Summary:
RSL – Tate Schmitt – 24′ – unsporting behavior
NSH – Daniel Lovitz – 41′ – unsporting behavior
NSH – Walker Zimmerman – 53′ – unsporting behavior
NSH – Dax McCarty – 90’+3′ – unsporting behavior
NSH – Dax McCarty – 90’+6′ – serious foul – Red Card
Officials:
Referee: Tori Penso
Assistant Referee: Jose Da Silva
Assistant Referee: Brooke Mayo
4th Official: Jair Marrufo
Video Assistant Referee: Sorin Stoica
AVAR: Peter Malciunas
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake: Zac MacMath; Johan Kappelhof; Justen Glad (Aaron Herrera, 63′) ; Erik Holt; Andrew Brody; Pablo Ruiz (Everton Luiz, 78′); Justin Meram (Jasper Loffelsend, 78′); Scott Caldwell; Maikel Chang (Bode Davis, 84′); Tate Schmitt; Bobby Wood (Sergio Cordoza, 63′)
Substitutes Not Used: Chris Garcia; Jonathan Menendez; Tomas Gomez; Jaziel Orozco
Nashville SC: Joe Willis; Daniel Lovitz; Dave Romney; Eric Miller; Walker Zimmerman; Hany Mukhtar; Alex Muyl (Ake Lobe, 74′); Anibal Godoy (Dax McCarty, 74′); Sean Davis; Randall Leal; Real Bunbury (CJ Sapong, 57′)
Substitutes Not Used: Jack Maher; Josh Bauer; Taylor Washington; Luke Haakenson; Brian Anunga; Bryan Meredith