Real Salt Lake pummels LAFC at home with 3-0 win

Real Salt Lake cruised to a fairly easy 3-0 victory over an LAFC team who was missing the likes of Carlos Vela, Eduard Atuesta, and Mark-Anthony Kaye. Goals from Damir Kreilach, Justin Meram, and Albert Rusnak earned RSL its first-ever regular season win over LAFC.

RSL grabbed an early goal thanks to a corner that found its way out to Maikel Chang’s foot on the far side of the box. He sent another chip in that was placed perfectly to Damir Kreilach, who headed it in past Pablo Sisniega to put the home side up 1-0 in the ninth minute.

Both teams had a great first half, but RSL especially looked in the zone at times as they took 12 shots overall in the first 45, with four of them on frame.

RSL wasted no time in the second half as they scored in the 47th minute off yet another set piece. A corner found its way to Chang’s foot as he let a shot rip toward goal. The ball was blocked by a defender and Justin Meram was able to collect it and put it in past Sisniega after some fancy footwork to evade the LAFC defenders.

A handball on Jordan Harvey led to a penalty kick for RSL when Justen Glad sent a shot in off a free kick rebound but the ball slammed into Harvey’s outstretched hand. Referee Victor Rivas pointed to the spot and Albert Rusnak lined it up. Rusnak calmly sent it in to Sisniega’s right, and although he dove the correct way, it just sailed in past his hand putting RSL up 3-0 over the visitors from California.

Though both teams ended the night with close to 20 shots, LAFC couldn’t find the back of the net on any of their chances, and RSL earned themselves their fourth clean sheet of the season.

Lineups

Real Salt Lake
Putna; Herrera, Glad, Onuoha, Toia; Ruiz (62’ Luiz), Kreilach (82’ Beckerman); Chang (82’ Ramirez), Rusnak, Meram (62’ Martinez); Baird (90+2’ Iloski)

Los Angeles FC
Sisniega; Najar (HT Blackmon), Jakovic, Traore (HT Segura), Harvey; Cifuentes (74’ Perez), Ginella, Duke (HT Blessing); Rodriguez, Musovski (62’ Wright-Phillips), Rossi

Discipline

48’ - RSL - Damir Kreilach (yellow card)
61’ - RSL - Pablo Ruiz (yellow card)
65’ - LAFC - Jose Cifuentes (yellow card)
70’ - RSL - Justen Glad (yellow card)
78’ - LAFC - Jordan Harvey (yellow card)
85’ - RSL - Kyle Beckerman (yellow card)

Scoring

8’ - RSL - Damir Kreilach (Maikel Chang)
47’ - RSL - Justin Meram (Damir Kreilach)
79’ - RSL - Albert Rusnak (PK)