Nelson Palacio’s Game-Winner Gives Real Salt Lake 3 Leagues Cup Points
Aug 1, 2024, 9:14 PM
Photo courtesy: Real Salt Lake
SANDY, Utah – Real Salt Lake ends a three-match winless streak on the back of a late Nelson Palacio game-winner to steal three points in a 2-1 victory to open Leagues Cup.
Real Salt Lake hosted Mexican power Atlas FC at America First Field on Thursday, August 1.
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The Leagues Cup fun has begun 🤪#LeaguesCup2024 | @SelectHealth pic.twitter.com/LTXUZBmh5h
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) August 2, 2024
Anderson Julio and Palacio scored for RSL. Andrés Gómez assisted on Julio’s header just before the end of the first half.
First Half
Real Salt Lake controlled possession in the opening dozen minutes while both squads attempted one shot on frame.
Andrés Gómez took a shot from outside the box with pace in the 16th minute, but ATS’ Camilo Vargas leaped to punch the shot away harmlessly.
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Atlas answered with a run of their own two minutes later. The Rojinegros peppered Gavin Beavers with a series of shot attempts. Beavers made an excellent diving save in traffic off an Atlas corner in the 19th minute. Atlas attempted three corners in the first 20 minutes.
ATS continued to put the pressure on, flooding the box for a 26th-minute goal from Luis Reyes. Jeremy Márquez assisted.
We are killing ourselves with silly turnovers, we clean that up and we can make a game of it. #RSL
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) August 2, 2024
RSL’s Bode Hidalgo picked up the first card of the match with a yellow on a bad foul.
RELATED: Gómez, Julio Combine For Late First Half Equalizer For RSL
Late in stoppage time, Gómez deposited a perfect ball to the forehead of Anderson Julio to tie the match 1-1 before halftime.
Andres Gomez ➡️ Anderson Julio 💪🏽🔥
Gomez and Julio linking up to make it 1-1 right before the halftime break for @realsaltlake #RSL | @kslsports— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) August 2, 2024
Second Half
RSL had a chance to grab the lead in the opening moments of the second half, but Matt Crooks couldn’t react quickly enough inside the six-yard box.
After several minutes of uneventful play, Gómez blasted a shot from in close. Despite a great attempt, Vargas reacted with a left-handed, diving stop to keep things even 1-1.
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Nelson Palacio came on in the 78th minute and immediately made his presence known with a blast from distance that gave his team a one-goal lead.
NELSON PALACIO WITH A GOLAZO 🚀🚀@realsaltlake come back from down 1 to take a lead late in the second half thanks to the brilliant strike from Nelson Palacio#RSL | @kslsports
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) August 2, 2024
RELATED: Nelson Palacio Gives Real Salt Lake Late Lead In Leagues Cup
The Claret and Cobalt held on for a 2-1, come-from-behind win.
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Real Salt Lake continues Leagues Cup play against the Houston Dynamo on Monday, August 5. Kickoff for this match is at 7 p.m. MT. RSL continues MLS play against the San Jose Quakes on Saturday, August 24.
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