Real Salt Lake Fall to Austin FC in Home Opener

March 12, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Real Salt Lake News Release

SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake (1-2-0, 3 points) suffered a 2-1 loss to Austin FC in the team’s Home Opener at America First Field. Defender Justen Glad notched his second goal of the year, but it was not enough to overcome the visiting side.

Postgame media from Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni can be found here.

The visitors took an early lead in the ninth minute when Jon Gallagher bent his shot into the top-right corner of the goal. However, RSL responded in the 22nd minute when Andrew Brody sent a cross to Damir Kreilach whose header found Glad’s sliding leg for his second goal of the season. The Claret-and-Cobalt nearly took the lead in the 27th minute when Rubio Rubin’s low cross found Jefferson Savarino, but the Venezuelan’s shot was deflected away by an Austin FC defender.

Austin FC regained the lead in the 33rd minute when Daniel Pereira slotted the ball to Owen Wolff who rocketed a right-footed shot from outside the 18-yard box and into the bottom left corner. With the halftime break quickly approaching Real Salt Lake was nearly reduced to 10 men after the referee showed Kreilach a straight red, but upon Video Assisted Review the call was reduced to a yellow card. Shortly after the first half whistle blew with Austin FC taking the 2-1 lead into halftime.

Coming out of the break, Colombian U-22 Initiative winger Andres Gomez came close to scoring his first goal for Real Salt Lake when he took a shot from deep in the 48th minute, but he had his attempt turned away by the goalkeeper. “Los Verdes” looked to have scored their third goal of the night in the 53rd minute, but the goal was disallowed after a player was judged to be offside.

Zac MacMath held strong, turning away an open opportunity just outside the six-yard box in the 72nd minute. RSL appeared to have found the equalizer two minutes later, but Anderson Julio was ruled offside and the goal waved off.

Despite pushing for the equalizing goal in the remaining 15 minutes, Real Salt Lake was unable to secure the second goal of the night, finishing with a 2-1 loss to Austin FC.

UP NEXT: Real Salt Lake returns to America First Field on Saturday, March 25 to face first-year expansion side St. Louis City SC at 7:30 p.m. MT.

GOAL SCORING SUMMARY:

ATX: Jon Gallagher 9th minute: Gallagher cut through the defense and fired a shot just outside the 18-yard box, finding the top right corner of the goal.

RSL: Justen Glad (Damir Kreilach, Andrew…