RSL’s Savarino Scores For Venezuela Against United States

CINCINNATI, Ohio – It’s been a tough stretch for the U.S. Men’s National Team and Real Salt Lake’s Jefferson Savarino made things even harder.

Playing with the Venezuelan national team, Savarino scored in the 30^th minute of his country’s 3-0 blowout win over the United States in a friendly match in Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium.

Savarino’s goal came after his initial shot on frame bounced off the post and back into the front of the open net. He buried it to mark his first goal for the Venezuelan senior team in his eighth appearance with the squad and put Venezuela up 2-0.

GOOOOOOLLLL OF VENEZUELA! Savarino marks the second for Vinotinto taking advantage of a rebound in the post after a shot from himself. @USMNT🇺🇸 0-2 🇻🇪 pic.twitter.com/K77WLZTo5L

— All sports highlights (@alex59995309) June 9, 2019

The 22-year old has been away from RSL on international duty since June 1, when he was called into action after his club’s loss to the New York Red Bulls as Venezuela has been preparing for the Copa America in Brazil later this month.

So far into the MLS season, Savarino has three goals in an RSL uniform, including a dramatic game-winner at the death of the match against defending MLS Cup champion Atlanta United on May 24.

Sava at the death pic.twitter.com/b9ERwMSmiH

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) May 25, 2019

Sunday’s loss was the latest in what has been a cataclysmic recent spell for the USMNT. The squad failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup with a humiliating loss to the tiny nation of Trinidad and Tobago in 2017 and will head into the upcoming CONCACAF Gold Cup reeling after losses to lower-ranked Venezuela and Jamaica this week.

RSL, without Savarino, will next play in the U.S. Open Cup against LAFC this Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Rio Tinto Stadium.