SANDY, UT – A late first-half goal and another tally in the dying minutes gave Real Salt Lake (2W-2L-1D) a 2-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC (3W-2L-1D) in a testy matchup at Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday evening.
The ‘Caps cut the deficit in added time as substitute Brek Shea scored his third goal on the season, but the comeback effort would fall short for Vancouver.
Whitecaps FC now return home to BC Place for a highly-anticipated Friday night matchup with expansion side Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). Visit whitecapsfc.com for ticket information.
- TIME CHANGE: April 13 kickoff time changed to 7:01 p.m. sharp
The ‘Caps provided much of the attacking pressure in the first half, but it was RSL who would open the scoring just moments before the halftime whistle. Luis Silva gave Real Salt Lake the 1-0 lead in the fourth minute of added time in the first half, converting off a nifty turn and unleashing a left-footed strike that deflected off a ‘Caps defender’s heel and into the net.
The two sides would go back and forth in the second frame, and RSL would score a crucial second goal in the 88th minute when Jefferson Savarino tapped the ball in off a Corey Baird setup.
Vancouver would fight on in added time, as Alphonso Davies’ long outlet found Kei Kamara, who nodded the ball towards Shea’s path for the left-footed finish.
It would be too little, too late, however, as the ‘Caps were dealt only their second loss on the season, while outshooting Real Salt Lake, and winning the possession battle. Despite the result, the ‘Caps maintain a share of the top spot in the Western Conference with Sporting Kansas City, who visit LA Galaxy on Sunday.
MATCH DETAILS
Budweiser Man of the Match: Kei Kamara
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
Attendance: 16,015
Scoring Summary
45’+4’ – RSL – Luis Silva (Brooks Lennon)
88’ – RSL – Jeffeson Savarino (Corey Baird, Damir Kreilach)
90’+2’ – VAN – Brek Shea (Kei Kamara)
Statistics
Possession: RSL 46.4% – VAN 53.6%
Shots: RSL 9 – VAN 11
Shots on Goal: RSL 3 – VAN 4
Saves: RSL 3 – VAN 1
Fouls: RSL 15 – VAN 11
Offsides: RSL 1 – VAN 1
Corners: RSL 1 – VAN 6
Cautions
17’ – RSL – Adam Henley
28’ – RSL – Marcelo Silva
56’ – RSL – Justen Glad
75’ – RSL – Brooks Lennon
78’ – VAN – Kendall Waston
Real Salt Lake
18.Nick Rimando; 12.Brooks Lennon, 30.Marcelo Silva (4.David Horst 41’), 15.Justen Glad, 17.Demar Phillips (3.Adam Henley 13’); 5.Kyle Beckerman ©, 6.Damir Kreilach; 7.Jeferson Savarino, 11.Albert Rusnák, 27.Corey Baird; 20.Luis Silva (8.Sunny 82’)
Substitutes not used
1.Alex Horwath, 10.Joao Plata, 16.Alfredo Ortuño, 31.Pablo Ruiz
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
1.Stefan Marinović; 28.Jake Nerwinski, 4.Kendall Waston ©, 18.José Aja, 17.Marcel de Jong (20.Brek Shea 74‘); 8.Felipe, 6.Efrain Juárez; 7.Bernie Ibini (13.Cristian Techera 65’), 11.Nicolás Mezquida (9.Anthony Blondell 81’), 67.Alphonso Davies; 23.Kei Kamara
Substitutes not used
12.Brian Rowe, 22.Aaron Maund, 31.Russell Teibert, 66.Aly Ghazal
