Real Salt Lake Earns First Road Win Of Season Against FC Cincinnati

CINCINNATI, Ohio – Real Salt Lake picked up its first road win of the season with a 3-0 win over first-year club FC Cincinnati.

The victory improves RSL’s record to 3-4-1 and gives the team its first winning streak of the season.

Playing a first-club can be challenge, as there isn’t much information to go off in preparation. Often times, it can a “trap game” as an unsuspecting opposing squad can be surprised by the upstart team’s grit and energy.

That was not the case between RSL and FC Cincinnati as RSL rolled to an easy three points with the road victory.

Complete Team Performance

In the game, nearly everybody on the RSL side was dialed in from the start. None played better and caused more drama in the game than midfielder Albert Rusnak, who scored a brace in the match after dislocating his finger midway through the first half.

Albert Rusnak… breaks off his finger, then breaks off a goal 5 minutes later. @realsaltlake #RSLvCIN @kslsports pic.twitter.com/eJFeyoPjZb

— Sportsbeat⚡️Afterhours (@SBAfterhours) April 20, 2019

His first goal, a rebound off a shot by Jefferson Savarino that was saved by FC Cincinnati, was the result of good positioning. His second goal, a penalty kick that was also created by aggressive play by Savarino, was pure class.

The middle goal of the game was scored by Sam Johnson, who also scored his first career goal in Major League Soccer in last week’s victory over Orlando City SC.

Dunseth Excels From Booth

While Rusnak, Savarino and Johnson dominated the attacking game for RSL, one of the strongest performances of the game may have come in the broadcasting booth as TV analyst Brian Dunseth was in rare form.

Between calling the game, tweeting and responding to the requests of his fans, Dunseth may have been the hardest working man at Nippert Stadium on Friday night. His call of the game was nothing sort of engaging and brilliant.

Real Salt Lake TV analyst Brian Dunseth is giving the fans exactly what they want. https://t.co/qzTfbvrS1U

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 20, 2019

No Rimando, No Problem

Not to be forgotten was the fact that RSL played with their mainstay in goal. Nick Rimando was held out of the game as a precautionary measure due to a knee injury. In his place, backup Andrew Putna got his first start of the season and played well, earning a clean sheet.

All in all, it was exactly the kind of game that RSL needed to gain confidence for the rest of the season.

Next Up

RSL will hit the road again for next week’s match against the LA Galaxy on April 28. The match will begin at 6 p.m.

Real Salt Lake matches can be streamed live on sports.ksl.com and the KSL TV app.