SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake traveled to Minnesota United over the independence weekend where they fell 3-2 in a chaotic game at Allianz Field.

“In the first half we could not find any time on the ball and then in the second half we found a way to win a lot of second balls,” Mastroeni said during his post-game interview.

Manager Pablo Mastroeni was forced to start Johan Kappelhof after Justen Glad tweaked his hamstring leading up to the game. Scott Caldwell also returned to the starting XI and replaced Jasper Löffelsend who was listed on the bench.

Rough RSL Start

The opening hour was dismal for Real Salt Lake who was attempting to regain momentum following a lackluster performance at home a week ago against the Columbus Crew.

“We did not start out the game well, we struggled to get a feel for the game, we struggled to get to know each other and that put us in a bad hole. We did not play together and we consequently conceded too many early goals. Fortunately, the final 30 minutes were promising but the game was away from us at that point,” acting captain Marcelo Silva said immediately following the game.

The Loons had the game being played solely in their attacking half and Real Salt Lake could not find any time on the ball. They were under immense pressure and had no answer to the Minnesota pressure.

The opening goal came in the 9th minute when Emmanuel Reynoso walked around Andrew Brody and Justin Meram before unleashing a left-footed strike past Zac MacMath and into the back of the net.

Rey Rey pic.twitter.com/0LIlW4S12q

— Minnesota United FC (@MNUFC) July 4, 2022

Then, in the opening half stoppage time, Reynoso received the ball in the box in which Aaron Herrera went to the ground attempting to steal the ball but made no contact with the ball and instead swiped the legs of Reynoso who was granted a penalty. MacMath saved the penalty but Reynoso calmly jumped on the loose ball and tapped it into the back of the net for the second goal of the game.

Second Half Hope

Mastroeni went to his bench in the 55th minute when he took off Rubio Rubin and brought on Anderson Julio who last scored a brace of his own during the last game at Allianz Field. Julio’s speed opened the game up and Real Salt Lake started to look dangerous in their attacking half.

“Julio had his best week leading into this game and performed really well when he came on…I think he did a lot to put him in the conversation to start next week,” Mastroeni said.

Jefferson Savarino found the breakthrough for Real Salt Lake in the 71st minute when he got on the end of a Maikel Chang cross. Five minutes later Anderson Julio flicked a header into the far post to narrow the scoreline.

Sava getting us on the board! pic.twitter.com/4L9HqrGOnX

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) July 4, 2022

In the dying minutes, Erik Holt was fortunate to not see red when he put an elbow into the back of the net of his Minnesota counterpart while fighting for a ball in the air.

Unfortunately, Real Salt Lake ran out of time, losing 3-2 to Minnesota.

The result marks the first time all season in which Real Salt Lake has failed to pick up a result on the road in back-to-back games.

Next Match

Real Salt Lake will return home for a Rocky Mountain clash against Colorado Rapids on Saturday, July 9 with kick-off scheduled for 8 p.m.