LAFC Might Too Much For Real Salt Lake To Overcome

SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake suffered a 4-1 defeat at Rio Tinto Stadium to the league leaders LAFC on Saturday evening.

The stadium was buzzing prior to kickoff. The atmosphere was unlike what Rio Tinto Stadium had experienced in many years. The club announced they broke a record attendance as 21,810 fans crammed into the stadium.

Mastroeni made two changes from last week’s 2-2 draw against San Jose. Anderson Julio replaced Maikel Chang and Pablo Ruiz came in for Nick Besler.

The start to the game was electric. Both teams were flying up and down the pitch looking for a breakthrough.

An Electric Start

Unfortunately, LAFC found the games opening goal when Cristian Arango poked the ball into the net following a scrap in the box. Carlos Vela played a magnificent ball into the area which Justin Meram failed to clear and Arango capitalized by being in the right place at the right time.

¡UN ARANGOLAZO! 🤯✌️#LAFC pic.twitter.com/ayWsE1M7Wt

— LAFC (@LAFC) August 7, 2022

But it didn’t take long for Real Salt Lake to answer. Unsurprisingly, Andrew Brody found space down the left side of the pitch, cut into a central position, and played Sergio Córdova who took one touch onto his right foot and buried the shot into the bottom corner.

Sergio is here to make a deposit 🤑💰 pic.twitter.com/pod3Ji9BPV

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 7, 2022

But that didn’t faze the might of LAFC. Shortly thereafter, Kellyn Acosta jumped on another poor mistake from RSL deep in their own territory. Jasper Löffelsend misjudged a bouncing ball only for Acosta to tag a left-footed strike into the bottom left corner of the net. Zac MacMath was frozen as he watched the ball fizzle by him.

2⃣ GOALS.
2⃣ GOLAZOS.#LAFC pic.twitter.com/Srby2Zfi6O

— LAFC (@LAFC) August 7, 2022

The chances kept coming for both clubs.

In the 28th minute, Jefferson Savarino had his shot blocked 10 yards out from goal after Brody played a superb cross that made its way all the way to the back post where Savarino was waiting.

Julio then missed a header in the 43rd minute after Aaron Herrera played a special delivery from the right side of the pitch.

LAFC Flexes Its Muscles

Nevertheless, the score sat at 2-1 at the half.

However, RSL continued to suffer in front of goal. Early in the second half Justin Meram’s header was saved on the line.

Then, 60 minutes into the game LAFC found a third, and Arango netted his brace. Kwadwo Opoku broke down the left wing, played a cross along the ground that Arango comfortably ran onto, and guided the ball into the back of the net.

🇬🇭 THE PASS 🔗 THE FINISH 🇨🇴#LAFC pic.twitter.com/92wB4L7lYh

— LAFC (@LAFC) August 7, 2022

Minutes later, LAFC brought on Gareth Bale and Brian Rodríguez.

Giorgio Chiellini welcomed himself to Utah with one of the more absurd plays seen at Rio Tinto Stadium. Chiellini was beaten by the bounce of the ball, and instead of letting Córdova in behind the LAFC defense he stuck both hands up and smothered the ball. The referee showed Chiellini a yellow card despite pleas from RSL players that the action warranted a red.

😏 @chiellini pic.twitter.com/oerGRxDZzV

— LAFC (@LAFC) August 7, 2022

The Might Of The Welshman

Bale’s inclusion was capped off with a heroic run down the right wing where he beat multiple RSL defenders before slotting home his second goal for LAFC and their fourth of the evening.

HE'S GARETH BALE. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🐉#LAFC pic.twitter.com/r22UgbUFKg

— LAFC (@LAFC) August 7, 2022

Real Salt Lake had no answer for the strike power of LAFC.

Next Real Salt Lake Match

Real Salt Lake will travel to Seattle for a date with Albert Rusnák and the Sounders.

The kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Sunday, August 14th.

The match will be available to stream for free via the KSL Sports and KSL 5 TV apps or on KSL Sports dot com.