RSL Draws Minnesota 0-0 at Home

October 3, 2024 – National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL)
Utah Royals FC News Release

SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake (14-7-11, 53 Pts, t-3rd West) drew 0-0 at home against Minnesota United before a raucous midweek crowd of 19,346. History was made early in the night as DF Justen Glad, upon playing the first 16 minutes of his full 90 on the night’s clean sheet, moved into third on the 20-year-old franchise’s all-time minutes played leaderboard – the homegrown All-Star centerback now trailing only RSL / MLS legends Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando.

Watch / Listen to RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni and GK Zac MacMath following 0-0 draw with Minnesota on Wednesday Oct. 2, 2024

Coming out for the first 45 under the lights at America First Field, Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s squads arrived determined to improve its standing with a berth into the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs already secured. Defense was king early in the affair, neither side able to register a shot on goal until a curling Chicho Arango laser at the 18′ mark nearly broke the tie. Arango, just one goal shy of breaking the Real Salt Lake single-season scoring record (Álvaro Saborio, 17) nearly put his name in the history books once again in the 30th as he cleverly combined with Dominik Marczuk on the right wing. Finally, RSL set its collective sights on claiming a late first-half lead when Diogo Gonçalves sent a firecracker on frame from a deep free kick in stoppage time, his strike connecting with the crossbar and deflecting out of play.

At the break, Real’s defending stood out as the top four Western Conference side failed to concede a single shot on goal through the first 45 minutes. Thoroughly controlling every aspect of play, Mastroeni’s Claret-and-Cobalt led in possession (62.5%-37.5%), shots (7-3), shots on goal (3-0), passes (320-192), pass accuracy (88%-82%), corners (2-0) and expected goals (0.6-0.2). Homegrown All-Star Justen Glad was a mainstay in the action, finishing his early shift with a match-high 52 passes at 94.5% success rate.

Coming out for the second 45, it was a back-and-forth affair marked by an air of physicality, the sides combining for 14 fouls and a late skirmish that saw two players given yellows and defender Brayan Vera shown a red card. Despite chances and the bulk of possession, RSL couldn’t break through to score, finishing the night with a 0-0 scoreline for just the third time this season.

Veteran goalkeeper Zac MacMath came alive in the second half to secure his fifth clean…