Real Salt Lake defied their poor MLS form to knock out a lackluster LA Galaxy and move on to the semi-finals of the US Open Cup. The only goal of the game came late in the 86th minute from center-back Aaron Maund.
Standing 9th in their conference, this has been a poor MLS season for RSL by their usual high standards, and while a play-off spot is still not beyond reach, the US Open Cup was their best chance at a major honors this season. Their recent form has been marked by poor on-field discipline and a failure to close out games from winning positions, and their most MLS recent game had seen them concede late goals to lose against bitter rivals Colorado Rapids.
LA Galaxy, on the other hand, were boosted by the arrival of former Liverpool star Steven Gerrard, who was starting from the bench and set to make his competitive debut in the US.
RSL made the early runnings in the game, albeit at a cautious tempo. Nonetheless, they could’ve gone ahead in the 6th minute when a through ball from Joao Plata found forward Sebastian Jaime in the box. The Argentine’s effort was saved by keeper Brian Rowe.
Plata had an even better opportunity to give RSL the lead himself, when he found himself onside following an RSL counter-attack. His touch and finish were poor, however, as he spurned another promising situation.
Galaxy’s best chance came in the 29th minute, when Sebastian Lleget got on the end of a low cross from the right flank. His effort was saved at the near post by Jeff Attinella.
After a largely uninspiring first-half from Galaxy, Bruce Arena finally introduced Steven Gerrard from the bench. The midfielder came in for Ignacio Maganto and started operating just behind the front two.
The game opened up considerably in the second, when in the 52nd minute of play, a cut-back from Tony Beltran found Joao Plata in the box. The forward’s scuffed shot was straight at Rowe.
The move was instantly followed by a Galaxy counter, which could’ve given Gerrard his first goal in a competitive match. However, keeper Attinella came up big to deny the ex-Liverpool man from a one-on-one situation.
The tempo eventually dampened down, yet RSL had a chance to edge in front in the 75th minute. A Joao Plata cross from just outside the box found Jaime at the far post., but the forward’s touch let him down. Keeper Brian Rowe bravely charged forward to collect the ball from Jaime’s feet.
Rowe made another good save off a thudndering Mansally shot, but in the end he could only do so much. Almost immediately after that save, Luke Mulholland found Maund in the box with a perfectly-weighted cross from a deep position. The defender rose above the Galaxy defense to head the ball home.
The win would do much to placate an agitated Jeff Cassar, who would now see the cup competition as a legitimate get-out-of-jail card for this season. RSL are in MLS action at home this Saturday, against Houston Dynamo.
