REAL SALT LAKE

Marcelo Silva Puts RSL In Front With First Goal Of 2022

Apr 30, 2022, 3:10 PM

Marcelo Silva #30 of Real Salt Lake jumps for a header during a round of 16 match of the MLS Is Back Tournament between San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on July 27, 2020 in Reunion, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

(Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

BY BRIAN PREECE
Digital Producer

SALT LAKE CITY – After coming up empty on a number of first half chances, Marcelo Silva put Real in front 1-0 when he scored early in the second half against the Galaxy.

RSL hosted the LA Galaxy at Rio Tinto Stadium in a matinee fixture on Saturday, April 30.

Off a corner piece, Silva took the pass from Pablo Ruiz and calmly headed it into the back of the net to give Real Salt Lake their first goal since a 2-2 draw against Toronto on April 9. The assist is the third of the season for Ruiz, a number that leads the goal challenged claret & cobalt.

Absolute perfection from the Cap. pic.twitter.com/qQrPLZkosO

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) April 30, 2022

RSL had several goal scoring chances in the first half but couldn’t capitalize, often struggling to even come up with a shot on goal. Fortunately, RSL’s defense has been up to the task, limiting the Galaxy to just four shots with none on frame in the first 57 minutes.

MacMath Over Ochoa, For Now

David Ochoa has returned to Utah following a call-up to the Mexican National Team but manager Pablo Mastroeni told KSL Sports that Zac MacMath will remain in goal for Real Salt Lake this week against the Galaxy.

“We’re going to go with Zac [MacMath],” Mastroeni said. “Zac has had a fantastic start to the campaign. The goalkeeper position is not a position that you switch out from week out to week in and unfortunately, Ochoa has been out with injury and so it is about getting games now so we are finding the right balance as to what that looks like,” he added.

The Power Of LA

The Galaxy is much improved in 2022 following the signing of Gregg Vanney who joined the Galaxy after a terrific six-year spell at Toronto that included the 2017 MLS Cup and three MLS Cup appearances.

The Galaxy has welcomed former Bayern Munich and Juventus star Douglas Costa to the team who has contributed one goal in his seven appearances. Furthermore, Mexican star Javier Hernández, otherwise known as Chicharito, is back to his goal-scoring best with five goals in nine appearances so far in 2022.