RSL Allows Two Second Half Goals In Road Loss To Minnesota
Sep 15, 2019, 5:53 PM
Ike Opara #3 of Minnesota United dribbles the ball past Damir Kreilach #8 of Real Salt Lake in the first half during the game at Allianz Field on September 15, 2019 in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
(Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – After the match was tied at one at halftime, Real Salt Lake conceded two goals in the second half resulting in a 3-1 loss to Minnesota United FC on the road.
Minnesota scored the go-ahead goal in the 51st minute as midfielder Darwin Quintero posted his second goal of the match.
They put the game out of reach late in the match with a goal by Ethan Finlay in the 83rd minute.
The match has ended in Minnesota pic.twitter.com/dOcIoBddFG
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) September 15, 2019
It was RSL, who scored first though, as midfielder Albert Rusnak scored a strange goal on a sloppy playing surface.
Rusnak received the ball off of a deflection by Minnesota goalkeeper Vito Mannone at the top of the 18-yard box. He patiently waited for a window to fire the shot and it traveled on the ground and went near-post past Mannone.
After watching the replay, it showed that Mannone slipped on the playing surface as he was trying to gain momentum on his dive to save the ball from going into the back of net.
The goal came in the 18th minute of the match and for Rusnak, it’s his 10th goal of the season, which breaks the tie for the most on the team as Sam Johnson has nine goals in 2019.
But, the lead didn’t last long with Quintero slipping the ball past RSL keeper Nick Rimando and scored the equalizing goal in the 20th minute.
Real Salt Lake now has 46 points this season with four games remaining this season. They dropped to fourth place in the Western Conference standings. Minnesota moved up to No. 2 with 48 points. RSL is one point behind Seattle for third place but are only two points ahead of San Jose, who is currently in fifth place.
The Claret and Cobalt will play their second-to-last road game of the regular season on Saturday when they face the New England Revolution at 5:30 p.m. on KSLSports.com or the KSL TV app.
