Anderson Julio shines in debut as RSL opens season with 2-1 win

Real Salt Lake earned all three points on the road in their season opener, logging their second-ever win over Minnesota United thanks to a brace from Anderson Julio.

David Ochoa got the start over both Andrew Putna and Zac MacMath, while both Anderson Julio and Rubio Rubin made their official debuts in the starting lineup for the visitors too.

Anderson Julio opened his RSL account in his first game for the club midway through the second half. A counterattack saw Julio tearing down the field toward the goal with the ball with two Minnesota defenders closing in. He tried to cross at the top of the 18 but it was cut out by Chase Gasper. Rubio Rubin tried to collect it but but went to ground while Julio picked up the loose ball. He let a shot rip to the top right corner, catching Minnesota ‘keeper Dayne St. Clair like a statue as it sailed in over his shoulder and into the net.

Julio doubled RSL’s lead just 10 minutes later when Rubin collected a bad giveaway from Gasper and headed toward goal. He sent an easy cross to a streaking Julio in the middle, who tapped it in effortlessly, putting the visitors up 2-0 in the first half.

RSL went into the halftime break with a two-goal lead while only controlling 40 percent of possession. Minnesota logged 12 shots overall in the first half but couldn’t find one on frame, while RSL put three of five on frame. While they started the game off flat, the visitors had an excellent showing in the final 15-20 minutes of the first half.

Robin Lod found the back of the net late in the game, keeping RSL from leaving with the clean sheet as some good team build-up and a fantastic touch from Justin McMaster gave Lod the easy shot to pull one back for the home side with just a few minutes left in the game.

While things got dicey near the end, RSL hung on and kept the hosts out of the back of the net for the rest of the game, leaving Minnesota with a 2-1 win.

Scoring

31’ - RSL - Anderson Julio (Rubio Rubin)
41’ - RSL - Anderson Julio (Rubio Rubin)
86’ - MIN - Robin Lod (Justin McMaster)

Discipline

24’ - RSL - Everton Luiz (yellow)
35’ - RSL - Pablo Ruiz (yellow)
73’ - RSL - Justin Meram (yellow)

Lineups

Real Salt Lake

Ochoa; Herrera, Glad, Silva, Toia; Luiz (70’ Besler), Ruiz (90+5’ Portillo); Rusnak (90’+5’ Chang), Kreilach, Julio (70’ Meram); Rubin (78’ Martinez)

Minnesota United

St. Clair; Metanire, Boxall, Raitala, Gasper; Gregus (65’ Dotson), Trapp; Lod, Reynoso, Finlay (65’ McMaster); Agudelo (75’ Alonso)