Real Salt Lake 0 vs 3 Los Angeles FC
May 13, 2023; America First Field; Sandy, Utah
Real Salt Lake (3-6-2, 11 points); LAFC (6-1-3, 21 points)
Telling Stats: LAFC’s first goal of the match scored by Kwadwo Opoku ended RSL’s 229-minute shutout streak in league play. RSL is now 1-11-0 against The Black and Gold, with the sole win coming at home on Wednesday, September 9, 2020. The 3-0 loss marks the sixth time this season that RSL has been held scoreless, and the fourth shutout loss.
What You Missed: The defending MLS Cup Champions started strong, opening the scoring early in the 8th minute when Kwadwo Opoku chested down a long aerial pass on the run from Ilie Sánchez and powered the ball past Zac MacMath. RSL responded well with several chances in the following minutes, but it was the visitors who would score again, this time courtesy of a long-range missile from Dénis Bouanga that deflected off MacMath’s outstretched hand and into the back of the net. The second half saw much less action than the first, with both teams battling for possession throughout the second 45. LAFC would seal the victory in the 87th minute via a Mateusz Bogusz converted penalty after Brayan Vera fouled a player in the box, defeating RSL 3-0.
What’s Next?: RSL will continue its hectic May schedule this Wednesday, May 17 as the Portland Timbers visit America First Field in Major League Soccer play, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. MT. Next Saturday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. MT RSL will face the Colorado Rapids as a part of MLS Rivalry Week at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, vying for the Rocky Mountain Cup.
