AUSTIN, Texas (Saturday, June 3, 2023) – Real Salt Lake (5-7-4, 19 points, 9th West) secured a 2-1 road victory over Austin FC, made possible by a brace from forward **Rubio Rubín** and a strong performance in goal from 18-year-old RSL Homegrown goalkeeper **Gavin Beavers**. RSL’s three road wins already this year (three losses, two draws) meets or exceeds the team’s total of away victories in four of the last six seasons.
Tonight’s win also gives RSL a 7W-3L-4T mark in the 14 games played across all competitions since April 8. Additionally, RSL improves to 13W-5L-7T in the 25 “bounceback” games played following a loss during the Pablo Mastroeni era, an impressive display of resilience.
In front of a raucous Los Verdes crowd, Real Salt Lake silenced the home fans in the 15th minute, when Rubín headed in a cross from **Jasper Löffelsend**, netting his first goal of the season to take the early 1-0 lead on the road. Two minutes later, Austin looked to equalize, but a full-stretch save from Beavers saw the ball pushed out for a corner kick. Austin continued to press RSL’s backline, but the team’s rearguard was able to easily dispel any dangerous opportunities, including a point-blank save from Beavers in the 38th minute.
Several moments prior to the halftime break, the match was sent into a weather delay on account of lightning within eight miles of the stadium. After more than a two-hour delay, the sides returned to the pitch to finish out the remaining five minutes of the first half, with RSL maintaining the 1-0 lead heading into the abbreviated halftime break.
Coming out of the changing rooms, Austin began to gain momentum, nearly finding a breakaway opportunity in the early moments, but the trifecta of **Justen Glad**, **Bode Hidalgo** and **Brayan Vera** were able to shut it down and prevent the shot. In the 57th minute, it seemed as if Austin had surely found the equalizer with Sebastian Driussi open and alone in front of goal with a loose ball, but somehow Beavers was able to extend his arms from his prone position and corral the shot. Seven minutes later, RSL found itself in a similar situation on the other end, as Vera looked to have an open shot on goal, but an unsuspecting Brad Stuver was able to turn around and make the last-second save.
Real Salt Lake all but secured the victory in the 81st minute, when a chaotic series of events saw second-half substitute **Andrés Gómez** hit a long cross towards **Maikel Chang**, who tapped the ball backwards to a wide-open Rubín. Receiving the ball, Rubín slammed his shot past Stuver to secure the brace - his third for RSL and his first since Sept., 2021 - and the 2-0 lead.
In the waning moments, Austin was able to pull one back with Julio Cascante finding the back of the net on a set piece. Just several plays later in what would eventually be the last play of the game, Austin nearly scored the equalizer, but once again, Beavers made the massive stop and preserved the 2-1 road victory.
UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake returns home to America First Field for its Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal match on Wednesday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. against the LA Galaxy. The team is looking to advance to the LHUSOC semifinals for the third time in Club history and the first time since 2015.
GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:
RSL: Rubio Rubín (Jasper Löffelsend) 15th minute: From well outside the 18-yard-box, Löffelsend curled a cross towards the penalty box where Rubín rose up over three defenders, meeting the pass in the air before flicking it into the far post.
RSL: Rubio Rubín (Maikel Chang, Andrés Goméz) 81st minute: From the right flank, Gómez picked out Chang at the far post, firing the long cross towards him. Chang one-touched the cross back towards a wide open Rubín, who slammed his shot past the goalkeeper.
ATX: Julio Cascante (Emiliano Rigoni) 90+2nd minute: Rigoni sent a cross over the top of the defensive line to Cascante, who headed it into the back of the net.
NOTES:
- Real Salt Lake were without MF Pablo Ruiz, absent due to yellow card accumulation. Ruiz is clear to return for the Club’s Wednesday U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinal match against LA Galaxy, as well as Saturday’s home match against New York City FC.
- Also expected back for this week’s upcoming home games are FW Jefferson Savarino and DF Marcelo Silva, each of whom did not travel to Austin.
- For the first time in his career, RSL Homegrown GK Gavin Beavers started in back-to-back matches for Real Salt Lake, with veteran ‘keeper Zac MacMath out due to concussion protocol.
- FW Rubio Rubín’s goal, scored in the 15th minute, marked just the fourth time this season RSL has scored first. It also served as the first goal for the Guatemalan forward since Decision Day on October 9, 2022 against Portland Timbers, a 3-1 victory. Meanwhile, German midfielder Jasper Löffelsend recorded his first assist of the year on the goal.
- With his second goal in the 81st minute, Rubio Rubín recorded his third ever brace with RSL, his most recent coming in September of 2021 against San Jose Earthquakes.
Lineups:
Real Salt Lake (4-4-2): Gavin Beavers; Bode Hidalgo, Justen Glad, Brayan Vera, Bryan Oviedo; Bertin Jacquesson (Andrés Gómez 55’), Jasper Löffelsend (Emeka Eneli 71’), Braian Ojeda, Maikel Chang (Andrew Brody 83’); Rubio Rubín (Damir Kreilach 83’), Anderson Julio (Danny Musovski 71’)
Subs not used: Tomás Gómez, Scott Caldwell, Delentz Pierre
Austin FC (4-3-3): Brad Stuver; Alex Ring, Jon Gallagher, Julio Cascante, Nick Lima (Adam Lundkvist 80’); Jhojan Valencia (Sofiane Djeffal 68’), Dani Pereira, Diego Fagundez (Ethan Finlay 68’); Emiliano Rigoni, Rodney Redes (Sebastian Driussi 46’), Maxi Urruti (Will Bruin 80’)
Subs not used: Kipp Keller, Gyasi Zardes, Hector Jimenez, Matt Bersano
Stats Summary: RSL / ATXShots: 15 / 15
Shots on Goal: 6 / 5
Saves: 4 / 4
Corner Kicks: 1 / 11
Fouls: 12 / 11
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:RSL: Bode Hidalgo (caution) 7’
RSL: Justen Glad (caution) 34’
ATX: Emiliano Rigoni (caution) 43’
ATX: Maxi Urruti (caution) 62’
ATX: Jon Gallagher (caution) 64’
RSL: Jasper Löffelsend (caution) 66'
