Real Salt Lake Obliterate Whitecaps From Start To Finish

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake has beaten Vancouver Whitecaps 4-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium in a midweek fixture that produced a dominant display of offensive prowess by the”visiting” RSL.

Manager Freddy Juarez opted for a different lineup from four days ago when RSL lost 1-0 at home to LAFC. Bobby Wood received his first start at the striker position. Justin Meram, Damir Kreilach, and Albert Rusnak played behind Wood. In the heart of the midfield, Pablo Ruiz and Everton Luiz held down the fort while Donny Toia, Justen Glad, Marcelo Silva, and Aaron Herrera made up the back four. David Ochoa remained in goal.

Third Fastest Goal In Club History

The fixture started with fireworks when Damir Kreilach scored RSL’s third-fastest goal in club history after he chipped 21-year-old goalkeeper Thomas Hasal inside the opening minute of play. Kreilach was played in by a beautiful ball from Aaron Herrera, gifting Herrera his fifth assist of the season.

The Kreilach Kid strikes again!

0-1 | #VANvRSL pic.twitter.com/DHS17HLxVq

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 8, 2021

The dominance by RSL continued throughout the first half, but RSL was unable to capitalize, as they have so often done this season, on their dominant first-half play.

Wood looked composed and controlled playing as the striker. His best chance of the game came when Kreilach played a wicked ball into the area and found the diving head of Wood only for the shot to be saved by Hasal.

“He showed his qualities,” Juarez said post-game. “He is talented at holding the ball but he is still finding his fitness and as he continues to find fitness he will provide more for us.”

Nonetheless, RSL looks like they have two formidable strikers to alternate between over the course of the long MLS season.

As the first half wound down and the second half began, Vancouver began to find the form that they entered the fixture with. Ochoa and the backline were looking uneasy and a goal seemed likely if RSL’s midfield could not contain the constant ambush by the Whitecaps.

Dominant Second Half Performance

However, RSL’s prized goal scorer came to the rescue as he so often has done in an RSL shirt. Damir Kreilach got on the end of a beautiful delivery by Meram and put the visitors up two goals. The cross by Meram was majestic and he curled the ball in with pace from the left wing and hit Kreilach square in his forehead.

WE LOVE GAMEDAY HUGSSSSSSSSS pic.twitter.com/P1vg056gpX

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 8, 2021

RSL had another cracking opportunity to find the back of the net when Rusnak hit the crossbar from six yards out after a deflected save by Haslam seemed to gift RSL’s captain.

Although, Rusnak ultimately had the final laugh when he scored from the penalty spot after Meram was taken down in the box.

Right on the money 🎯

0-3 | #VANvRSL pic.twitter.com/RUSYUvvzH1

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 8, 2021

Anderson Julio came off the bench and punched the final goal home when Kreilach’s shot fell to his feet and he scored RSL’s fourth.

It was a dominant display by RSL who needed to secure three points at home against a Vancouver outfit that entered the contest with consecutive road points and in good form.

RSL answered the critics and solidified dominance at Rio Tinto Stadium again.

Next Fixture

The next match for RSL will take place on the road against LAFC on July 17th. Their next home game will not be until July 21 when they host the LA Galaxy.