RSL steamrolled by Philadelphia 4-1, remains winless on the road

Real Salt Lake dropped another result on the road, losing 4-1 to the Philadelphia Union thanks to goals from Marcus Epps, Borek Dockal, Ilsinho, and Keegan Rosenberry. RSL’s only goal came from Damir Kreilach.

RSL remains winless on the road, losing five and drawing one through six away matches played.

Mike Petke made a change in the lineup tonight, starting Brooks Lennon on the left wing in lieu of an injured Joao Plata. Adam Henley got the start at right back, where Lennon has been starting for the last little while. Marcelo Silva also made his return to the starting lineup after being sidelined with an injury.

Philadelphia, after controlling much of the game for the first 20 minutes, opened the scoring in the 21st when Marcus Epps received a perfect ball in the middle of the penalty box and slammed it home right past Nick Rimando, who was caught off guard and helpless. The home side took the 1-0 lead early in the game after a barrage of shots, many of which Rimando was able to save up until then.

The home side struck again in the 34th minute when Alejandro Bedoya found himself with space down the right side on tbe counter attack. He sent a perfectly weighted ball into Borek Dockal who was streaking toward goal. Rimando came off his line to try and grab the ball, but Dockal got to it first and sent a chip right into the back of an empty net, putting his team up 2-0.

While still on the back foot in the second half, RSL was able to get one back in the 66th minute thanks to a goal from Damir Kreilach. Bofo Saucedo collected the ball near the goal line to Andre Blake’s right, when he went around a defender and sent the ball to Kreilach who was waiting near the top of the 18. Kreilach let it rip and it went past Blake, good to pull RSL within one at 2-1.

After some poor defending, Philadelphia put another ball in the back of the net in the 67th minute. While the celebration was happening, the referee went to video review, ultimately calling the goal back due to Marcus Epps being offside, holding the score at 2-1 as RSL dodged a massive bullet.

Unfortunately, the Union wasted no time in making up for the play, scoring again in the 74th minute thanks to some shoddy defending and a goal from Ilsinho. Philly’s attack sliced up RSL’s defense and made it look too easy, putting the home side up 3-1.

Philadelphia continued the onslaught, scoring a fourth in the 81st minute when Keegan Rosenberry collected a pass at the top of the 18 and fired a shot on the ground, which found its way past RSL defenders and slid in past Rimando’s right side, making the lead a staggering 4-1.

This is Philadelphia’s first-ever win against RSL through 11 games.

RSL makes the trip to Seattle next week for a second consecutive road game, in hopes of turning things around going forward.