Real Salt Lake Beats Phoenix Rising To Remain Undefeated During Preseason

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake remains undefeated during the preseason after beating USL side Phoenix Rising behind closed doors 1-0.

The only goal of the game was scored by Albert Rusnak who found space in the box and slotted home the game’s only goal. Ashtone Morgan was credited with the assist.

"There's a better understanding of what we're trying to do" pic.twitter.com/F8FHS0zIUJ

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

A Happy Manager

“We got better as the game went on, as we got deeper and deeper into the moments of the game we got sharper, better, the organization got better,” Manager Freddy Juarez said. “But I thought we were always pretty good defensively and that is something that we have really been preaching,” he added.

Tonight’s XI against Phoenix in Tucson: Besler, Chang, Farnsworth, Glad, Herrera, Martinez, Morgan, Portillo, Putna, Ramirez, Rusnak.

7 pm MT kickoff

No stream tonight so stay tuned here for updates. #RSL

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

Juarez opted for a new lineup from what we saw against Colorado Rapids on April 3rd. Andrew Putna started in goal, Glad and Herrera returned to the lineup after their failed Olympic Qualifying bid in Mexico, Rusnak also returned to the team after spending a few weeks in Europe with the Slovakian National Team.

The Rusnak goal came in the 26th minute, despite Phoenix getting the better of RSL through the first 15 minutes of the game.

Milan Iloski came off the bench in the second half for Martinez and got on the end of a Maikel Chang cross in the 61st minute but his headed attempt rattled the crossbar and the score remained 1-0.

“The most important is the win,” Rusnak said after the game. “Got some minutes since I came back from the national team so that was good, that was a positive. I thought we played well as a team today. We could have scored more goals but the good thing is that we did create those chances,” Rusnak added.

Remaining Preseason Schedule

RSL will play one final game in Tucson on April 10th against LA Galaxy. That game will be available to stream via the KSL 5 TV app and at KSLSports.com.

The team will return to Utah immediately following the contest against the Galaxy. They will spend the final two weeks of the preseason in Utah to further prepare for their season opener on April 24th against Minnesota away from home.

The home opener is scheduled for noon on May 1st against Sporting Kansas City. Interim President John Kimball announced recently that 10,000 fans will be allowed into the stadium for the home opener against SKC.