Kreilach’s Crane Kick Shocks, Amazes In 3-2 Stunner Over LAFC

Nov 2, 2018, 8:00 AM | Updated: 8:10 am

KSL Sports

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Real Salt Lake stunned the soccer world by beating the Los Angeles Football Club 3-2 in the knockout round of the MLS Cup Playoffs. It was their second goal that lit social media on fire – a Karate Kid-style “crane kick” that truly amazed.

It may have been the MLS goal of the year.

Damir Kreilach ARE YOU KIDDING US?! #LAFCvRSL // @Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs https://t.co/OTWcWEaCth

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 2, 2018

Damir Kreilach’s golazo was key in the win. His strike quickly went viral and left 22,000 LAFC fans at Banc of California stadium in stunned silence.

“That was unbelievable,” said captain Kyle Beckerman. “He’s a guy who puts in so much work. He’s such an unbelievable pro so when you see him with success with goals like that you’re just happy for him.”

The crane kick reminded many of a scene from the 1984 movie, “The Karate Kid,” when Daniel Larusso uses a crane kick taught to him by his master, Mr. Miyagi, to defeat Cobra Kai.

I have no doubt Kreilach learned that move from Daniel Larusso pic.twitter.com/LCHSwenxJI

— Bart Sharp (@BartSharp_) November 2, 2018

“When he struck it, I thought it was possibly going wide, but you know, the season he’s having, that stuff doesn’t go wide,” said RSL defender Nedum Onuoha. “It was a truly great finish.”

Kreilach’s crane kick helped RSL finally sweep the leg of LAFC, the bully that beat them twice this season by a combined score of 7-1.

Damir Kreilach. GOLAZO!!! #RSL #RSLvsLAFC #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/ZK2iW1g3mc

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) November 2, 2018

Damir was voted the club’s most valuable player by his teammates and he showed why in RSL’s 3-2 win over LAFC in the knockout round.

RSL fell behind 2-1 in the 55^th minute after LAFC’s Christian Ramirez put his team ahead. Kreilach’s crane kick was the equalizer just 3 minutes later and his kick in the 69^th minute was deflected by LAFC’s Walker Zimmerman into the net for an own goal.

His heroics help Real Salt Lake move onto the Western Conference Semifinals. They host hated rival Sporting KC at Rio Tinto Stadium in the 1^st leg on Sunday at 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.