RSL’s 2nd-half collapse leads to 4-0 loss against Red Bulls

It started out looking like Real Salt Lake might be able to grind a result at Red Bull Arena without key players Albert Rusnak and Damir Kreilach, but it quickly went south in the second half when New York dropped three goals in just six minutes, followed by a fourth goal to top it all off late in the game. The Red Bulls, led by Daniel Royer, easily sailed to a 4-0 rout while controlling 63% of possession and outshooting the visitors 19-10 overall.

Mike Petke was forced to make some lineup changes due to Kreilach’s yellow card accumulation suspension and Albert Rusnak’s ankle injury that kept him out of the 18 tonight. Jefferson Savarino shifted to the number 10 spot while Corey Baird got the start on the right wing. Everton Luiz also got his first start since early April as he’s been out with injury. Kyle Beckerman, who has also been sidelined with an injury, made the 18 for the first time in five matches.

New York almost had the opening goal in the 22nd minute as Daniel Royer took a shot from a few yards out, but Rimando was quick to deny it and send the ball back into play. Alex Muyl tried to head the rebound but this time it was an easy save for Nick, keeping the game all square at 0-0.

Despite New York’s best efforts, they were unable to get on the score sheet in the first half. They did, however, control the majority of the half with 61% possession, while outshooting RSL 10-5 overall (4-1 on frame). Luckily, RSL didn’t repeat their mistake midweek in Montreal by giving up a goal in first half stoppage time, and both teams headed into the locker room with their shutouts still intact.

After some promising attacking play from RSL to start the second half, the Red Bulls broke the deadlock in the 58th minute due to an own goal. A cross was sent into the box and a clearance from Herrera went awry, instead ricocheting off of Marcelo Silva and into their own net. It was an unfortunate situation, and one that Silva could do nothing about as he was credited with the own goal.

Not even a minute later, Daniel Royer doubled the home side’s lead after a pass from Kaku found Royer wide open and directly in behind RSL’s defense. He fired off a great shot that sailed right past Rimando, quickly turning the situation for the visitors from bad to worse as the deficit climbed to 2-0.

Speaking of going from bad to worse, RSL’s defense fell apart quickly to allow another goal in just five minutes later in the 64th, as Michael Murillo got himself on the scoresheet. The ball was sent in by Alex Muyl which took a deflection in the box. Murillo collected it, cut to his left and sent a weak-ish shot toward goal that happened to take a small deflection and catch Rimando off guard. Despite Brooks Lennon making an attempt to clear it off the line, it rolled over his foot and into the back of the net, putting the home side up 3-0 in a span of just six minutes.

The Red Bulls notched a fourth in the 83rd minute thanks to two of the substitutes brought in no more than four minutes earlier. Andreas Ivan sent a ball in from the right side of the box past Herrera, which found Omir Fernandez open right in between Silva and Lennon. Fernandez stuck a foot out and first-timed a quick shot straight past Rimando, continuing the rout as they increased their lead to 4-0.

Red Bulls ‘keeper Luis Robles was never truly tested in this outing as RSL logged 10 total shots, but only three of them on target, all of which ended up being standard saves for Robles.

RSL heads into the international break with two straight losses, now looking ahead to their US Open Cup match against Los Angeles FC on June 11th.

Scoring

58’ NYRB - Marcelo Silva (OG)
59’ NYRB - Daniel Royer (Kaku, Sean Davis)
64’ NYRB - Michael Murillo
83’ NYRB - Omir Fernandez (Andreas Ivan, Michael Murillo)

Discipline

15’ RSL - Nedum Onuoha - yellow card

Lineups

RSL: Rimando; Lennon, Silva, Onuoha, Herrera; Luiz, Besler (HT Beckerman); Baird, Savarino, Saucedo; Johnson

NYRB: Robles; Murillo, Parker, Tarek (73’ Nealis), Lawrence; Davis, Rzatkowski; Muyl (80’ Ivan), Kaku, Royer (79’ Fernandez); White