by Brayden Palmer
Real Salt Lake traveled to face the LA Galaxy on Wednesday night. LA kept handed the visitors a 1-0 loss. It was a scrappy game in which both teams struggled to create good opportunities. This matchup turned out even worse for RSL than the last time the two teams met when they tied 2-2.
Players of Note
Salt Lake fielded a lineup of regular starters mixed with rotational players. Star defender Justen Glad was suspended due to the red card he received in the draw in the previous match with the Houston Dynamo. Damir Kreilach, who was named to the MLS All-Star squad before the game, was resting on the bench. Another notable change for RSL was the addition of Jonathan Menendez in his first start for the team.
Turning Point of the Match
There weren’t many worthy moments to write about from this game, and the lone goal came on a controversial offside call. In the 53rd minute, Galaxy player Efrain Alvarez played a great combo off his teammate and controlled the return pass inside the RSL eighteen. He did a little shimmy and snuck a shot past Zac MacMath into the side netting of the far post.
MacMath performed well in this game as he continued to fill in for the injured David Ochoa. His outing included a spectacular save on Kevin Cabral, who found himself completely free inside the box. MacMath reacted quickly to the snap-shot and somehow kept it out of the back of the net.
As the Galaxy retreated deeper into their own half to try and defend the lead, RSL took control of the game. Unfortunately they weren’t able to produce any quality chances. The best ones came from hopeful long-balls into the Galaxy box. Kreilach rose up onto the end of a few of those crosses but couldn’t put the ball through LA keeper Jonathan Bond.
Up Next
RSL now looks forward to improving their fortunes this Saturday against the Portland Timbers. The Timbers sit one place and one point below RSL in the standings, but traveling to Portland is never an easy game. They’ll look to bolster their chances with the return of Glad and other key players.
Featured image courtesy Kevin Kuo – USATODAY Sports