RSL Fall at Home 3-2 to Vancouver | OneFootball

Real Salt Lake hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in their second match up of the season. The away fixture was a 2-1 Whitecap victory in Vancouver earlier in the month. At this point in the season the Whitecaps are averaging nearly two goals per game while RSL is just under one. Goals change games, and to beat the MLS Western Conference leaders, RSL will absolutely need to find the back of the net. Probably more than once.

FINDING GOALS

RSL took that thought to heart. In the fist minute, Diego Luna found Zavier Gozo cutting into the Vancouver box. Zavier then deftly turned and sent his right footed shot through Vancouver’s Bjøn Utvik’s legs and beating Vancouver keeper, Yohei Takaoka, to his near post as he dove to his right. This was Zavier Gozo’s first MLS Goal and the first in three games for the Claret and Cobalt.

Just four minutes later RSL scored a second goal. With continued pressure from the home side RSL’s Dominik Marczuk sent a searching cross into the box that forced the Vancouver keeper Takaoka to parry the ball down to his right and out into the middle of his box. Fortunately for RSL it fell to the feet of Diego Luna who pounced and slammed the ball into the back of the net for the early 2-0 RSL lead. This was the first time in franchise history they scored twice inside the first five minutes of a match.

From there the game proceed to flow, often quickly and entertainingly, up and down the pitch with both sides finding dangerous opportunities. In the 12th minute RSL came close twice to getting a quick third goal. After some great build up play on the RSL left side, left-back Alex Katranis sent a sliding cross from the endline that found a cutting Willy Agada. Willy’s shot, from point blank in front of Takaoka, deflected off the Vancouver keepers chest and out for an RSL corner kick. In the ensuing play RSL had another dangerous opportunity but the ball was safely defended by the Whitecaps.

GIVING UP A TWO GOAL LEAD

The back and forth continued until the 20th minute when Vancouver scored off of a corner kick. The ball was sent into the box where USMNT striker and MLS standout so far this season, Brian White, found himself with a bit of a mismatch. He was being defended in the center of the box by RSL right-back Noel Caliskan. With very little effort, White was able to create space as the ball found his head and then the back of the net and opening the scoring for the visitors. It was another, arguably soft, goal given up by RSL this season.

Less than two minutes later the game was tied. Continued Vancouver pressure earned them another corner kick. On the play the ball found the head of Vancouver defender Sam Adekugbe. His shot then hit the outstretched arm of RSL Striker Willy Agada, who had his back to the play and didn’t seem to know much about his surroundings. After a VAR review, Vancouver was awarded the penalty and Brian White evened the match.

The half ended tied 2-2 but not for the lack of effort. Both sides had opportunities that either a nice save from the goalie or scrambling last ditch defending prevented both side from entering half time with the lead. Although the momentum definitely had turned in favor of Vancouver, RSL was probably more than happy to get to the break without giving up another goal and the lead.

THE SECOND HALF

The second half looked and felt much like the first with RSL working to get back on top early but couldn’t find the back of the net. The play continued to be an entertaining, up and down the pitch affair, as both sides tried to get the upper hand. Neither side looked or played like a team content to go home with just one point. Parking the bus was not in the cards for either side.

The game did finally see a separating goal, but not until the 89th minute. RSL’s Dominik Marczuk hit Ariath Piol with a long field-switching pass over the midfield line. Ariath drove to the endline, then tried to find Diego Luna at the top of the box. Unfortunately, Luna was well-defended, and Piol failed to spot a wide open Zavier Gozo on the left. His pass was easily intercepted and Vancouver made their way back to the RSL end.

LATE HEARTBREAK

Pedro Vite probed up the right flank before passing to Emmanuel Sabbi. Sabbi feinted to the box, then delivered back to Vite. The RSL defenders, gassed and stretched, then gave the Vancouver midfielder too much time and space, which he expanded with a slight touch. He sent a beautiful left footed shot that diving RSL keeper, Rafael Cabral, could not keep out.

Vite’s goal decided the match and gave the Whitecaps the 3-2 comeback victory with the three unanswered goals. If you want to beat the best team in the Western Conference you have to do better and make better decisions on both ends of the pitch. RSL also needs to find a way to get their strikers, Agada and Piol, scoring goals with more frequency. Until they can clean up the defensive lapses that have plagued them all season, and find a way to score more consistently at the other end of the pitch, this season RSL will continue to find themselves below the playoff line.

RSL STRUGGLES

As Real Salt Lake struggles to find wins the post game message from RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni continues to be patience. He reiterated, “when you have a young team this is par for the course. They’re gaining their experience in real time.” He went on to say “we are cutting our teeth in real time and unfortunately it’s affecting results.”

BRIGHT SPOTS?

There were definitely bright spots for Real Salt Lake despite the loss. Zavier Gozo scored his first MLS goal and his continued stellar play has to be making it difficult to not have him on the pitch. Rafael Cabral has to be considered one of the best keepers in MLS this season. His saves in this game were as instinctive as they were spectacular. Diego Luna, can’t stop, won’t stop, making the argument that he is destined for great things, whether at RSL, in MLS, or with the USMNT and beyond. His future looks blindingly bright. Besides those three, RSL Captain Emeka Eneli, is only getting better, Alex Katranis continues to create down the left side but for all of their efforts, and the solid play from many others on Real Salt Lake, it has just not been enough to turn moral victories into three points.

Fortunately they don’t have to wait long to try and get the bad taste of giving up a two goal lead at home and the loss to Vancouver, out of their mouth, as their next game is Wednesday, May 28th, in Austin. Unfortunately, Austin is in Texas which, as every RSL fan knows, is not a place that RSL has historically found success of any kind. But at some point this season has to turn around for RSL, right?