RSL Suffer 3-0 Loss – OurSports Central

September 15, 2022 – MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro) – Real Monarchs News Release

SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake (11-10-10, 43 points) suffered a 3-0 loss at Austin FC in the Club’s second-to-last road match of the season.

With only four games remaining in the regular season and Real Salt Lake currently in the last remaining playoff position, the team’s midweek matchup against Austin FC put the pressure on the Claret-and-Cobalt to come into the fortress that is Q2 stadium and earn a result. The home side came out aggressively, hitting the crossbar in the fifth minute, but after that chance the tides began to turn and RSL gained offensive momentum.

In the 20th minute Diego Luna and Andrew Brody put back-to-back chances on target, but saves from goalkeeper Brad Stuver kept them out of the back of the net. Eight minute later Rubio Rubin broke away towards goal, but his shot skipped wide-left of goal. Despite having the majority of possession and chances, RSL was unable to put one into the back of the net. However, on the defensive end Real Salt Lake prevented Austin, one of the highest scoring teams in the league, to zero shots on target, leaving the two sides scored at 0-0 heading into the halftime break.

Real Salt Lake continued to press towards goal coming out of the halftime break, with Luna nearly finding the opening goal in the 53rd minute, but a late slide from the last defender sent it out for a corner kick. After Austin FC Head Coach Josh Wolff implemented an attacking line change, the substitutions came in an added a different pace, setting up a chance for Moussa Djitte to catch Johan Kappelhof off guard and bury the opening goal of the match in the 60th minute. In the 76th minute Djitte secure the brace, hitting a side-volley off a poorly cleared corner deep into the back of the net. Just minutes later Djitte did it again, finding himself one-on-one with Zac MacMath to earn a hat-trick and solidify the 3-0 victory for Austin FC.

UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake finishes its three-game week at America First Field where the Club will host FC Cincinnati for Hispanic Heritage Night on Saturday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. MT.

GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:

ATX: Moussa Djitte (Diego Fagundez, Julio Cascante) 60th minute: Fagundez sent in a cross to to Djitte who stuck a leg out redirecting the ball into the back of the net.

ATX: Moussa Djitte 76th minute: After the ball bounced off the crossbar and back into the box, Djitte side-volleyed a shot, blasting the ball into the back…