RSL lose to San Jose 2-1, extend road losing streak to six

RSL couldn’t get the job done tonight in San Jose, as they fall 2-1 and lose their sixth straight game on the road, despite San Jose going down a man in the 71st minute.

Mike Petke trotted out a 4-1-3-2 this time around, and Yura Movsisyan himself made it back into the starting lineup, paired with Luis Silva up top.

San Jose came out swinging, and after a few good chances on goal from both teams, the Quakes broke the seal in the 13th minute with a play that came right after Chris Wondolowski hit a ball right off the post. Danny Hoesen was able to get the ball around Chris Wingert, and after a failed clearance attempt, Hoesen collected the ball in front of net and put it well past Nick Rimando to put the home side up 1-0.

This was the 15th goal RSL has given up in the first 15 minutes this season.

Hoesen and Jahmir Hyka continued to push forward and run at RSL’s defense for the entire first half, the visiting side unable to figure out how to stop them from dancing into the final third.

While the Earthquakes controlled the majority of the first half — 60% possession and nine shots in total — RSL was able to keep them from scoring a second goal before the break, largely thanks to Nick Rimando with a couple huge saves.

Petke made a slight adjustment to the formation for the second half, putting Movsisyan as the lone striker with Savarino and Silva directly behind him, in hopes that a formation change might spark some creativity resulting in an equalizer.

Joao Plata had RSL’s best chance of the game in the 52nd minute when he took a free kick from outside the 18. The shot curled around the defensive wall, hit the post and went behind for a goal kick.

Marco Urena found San Jose’s second goal in the 68th minute when he received a long ball and broke free behind the defense. As fast as he is, nobody could keep up with the Costa Rican international, and he slotted the ball from an incredibly tough angle on the right side just past Rimando and into the side netting to put his team up 2-0 on the visiting RSL.

Nick Lima earned himself a second yellow when he went in with a two-footed tackle, and was sent off leaving the Quakes with 10 men on the pitch.

Jose Hernandez notched his first MLS goal as he pulled one back for RSL in the very last play of the game, but it wouldn’t matter much as San Jose would walk out of Avaya Stadium with the full three points.

Real Salt Lake returns home — where they’ve won three straight — to host Jason Kreis and Orlando City on Friday, while San Jose has a double header next week at home, when they host Seattle in Open Cup play and then the LA Galaxy in MLS play.