RSL Star Chicho Arango Exits Early After Suffering Head Injury Against LA Galaxy
Jun 22, 2024, 8:13 PM | Updated: Jun 23, 2024, 10:19 am
SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake star Chicho Arango suffered a head injury early in the first half against the LA Galaxy before he exited the field for the night.
Chicho Arango suffers injury vs. Galaxy
RSL hosted Los Angeles at America First Field in Sandy, Utah on Saturday, June 22.
In the 16th minute of play, Alexandros Katranis attempted a shot from the left side of the box. LA goalkeeper John McCarthy blocked the shot before the ball went toward the top of the 18-yard box.
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Chicho Arango received 15-20 stitches after this head-on collision with an LA Galaxy defender.
Per @realsaltlake Chicho was initially determined not to have suffered a concussion but was under close supervision. @kslsports | 🎥: @IsaacxMunoz #RSL pic.twitter.com/QFFmob8ssr
— RSL Show on KSL 🎙️⚡️ (@rslshow) June 23, 2024
Arango leaped into the air and attempted a shot at the goal via a header. While jumping into the air, the RSL forward’s head collided with Martín Cáceres of the Galaxy. Both players fell to the ground following the collision.
🔵🔴😱| Chicho Arango se chocou com um jogador do LA Galaxy e caiu com a mão sangrando. Tomara que não seja nada grave 🙏🏻@territoriomls
— Cristian Moraes (@18Cristian_MR) June 23, 2024
Medical personnel immediately ran onto the pitch to assist the two injured players.
After a few minutes, Arango rose to his feet under his own power before walking off the field. Arango was replaced by Anderson Julio.
Chicho Arango exits the field in the 19th minute after suffering a hit to the head a few minutes before. #RSLonKSL #RSL #RSLvLA pic.twitter.com/23ZKRoiPTp
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 23, 2024
Real Salt Lake announced the substitution as a “concussion sub” on social media.
21' | concussion sub #RSLvLA | @SJ_Utah pic.twitter.com/HSTiKGrn85
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) June 23, 2024
Cáceres exited a few minutes later and was replaced by Jalen Neal.
The match was scoreless at the time of the injuries.
This season, Arango has recorded 16 goals and 10 assists in 20 matches.
.@realsaltlake says Chicho Arango was initially ruled to have NOT suffered a concussion vs. @LAGalaxy, but he will continue to be observed.
However, Arango received “15-20 stitches” for the gash he suffered on Saturday night.#RSLonKSL #RSL #RSLvLA @rslshow
📷: Real Salt Lake pic.twitter.com/Afgf7DRx75— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 23, 2024
Real Salt Lake’s match against LA is broadcast via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM), sports.ksl.com, and the KSL Sports app.
LISTEN LIVE: @realsaltlake is back at home to face @LAGalaxy on the @kslsports app, @KSLSportsZone, and:https://t.co/NpbQ09BGd2 pic.twitter.com/c8gplfO38H
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 23, 2024
Real Salt Lake this season
Real Salt Lake opened its 2024 schedule with a 2-0 loss to Inter Miami CF on February 21. The club followed up the season-opening loss by picking up a point in a 1-1 draw with St. Louis only three days later.
Following the draw with St. Louis, Real Salt Lake beat LAFC at home, 3-0. After defeating Los Angeles, RSL fell at home to the Colorado Rapids, 2-1. Real Salt Lake has been unbeaten in MLS play since the home loss to Colorado.
Real Salt Lake got back on track with a 2-1 win over Vancouver on March 23 and a 3-1 victory over St. Louis on March 30.
The team’s two-game winning streak was snapped with a 1-1 draw with Minnesota United FC on April 6 at Allianz Field. On April 13, RSL played the Columbus Crew to a scoreless draw before crushing the Chicago Fire, 4-0, a week later. In the club’s next match, RSL picked up a 2-1 win over Philadelphia.
BACK IN OUR FORTRESS 🔜 pic.twitter.com/pnVX4md2hl
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) June 21, 2024
After beating Chicago, RSL picked up consecutive wins over the Philadelphia Union and Sporting Kansas City.
Following the back-to-back victories, Real Salt Lake fell to New Mexico United of the USL Championship in the U.S. Open Cup. Real Salt Lake rebounded in MLS play by earning a point after drawing with the LA Galaxy on May 11.
Then RSL picked up wins over Seattle and Colorado before consecutive draws with Seattle, Austin FC, and CF Montréal.
RELATED: Real Salt Lake Keeps Unbeaten Streak Alive, Plays CF Montréal To Scoreless Draw
RSL hosted LA Galaxy coming off a 4-3 win over Sporting KC.
Kyle Ireland is a Utah Hockey Club Insider for sports.ksl.com. Follow him on X (@kyleireland), Threads (@kyleirelandksl), and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).
