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New York City 1, Real Salt Lake 3 — as it happened

NYCFC crash and burn against RSL in a game marred by poor passing and no energy

By Christian A Smith Updated
MLS: New York City FC at Real Salt Lake Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

FT: NYCFC fall to RSL 3-1 on the road.

No passion, no energy, no passing... nothing. NYCFC were great for five minutes and that was it. Tactically, the changes came too late and out of order. Truly nothing to write home about in this one.

88’: RSL effectively ends the game. 3-1. Awful performance.

78’: Gary Mackay-Steven comes on for Ofori.

75’: RSL takes a 2-1 lead on a great goal from Albert Rusnak.

City has been terrible this half. Hell, they’ve been poor since they scored the opening goal.

64’: Keaton Parks comes on for Taty Castellanos.

60’: Really slow developing half. Neither team can seem to find a breakthrough and both are struggling on the offensive side of the ball.

We’re off in the second half!

HT: NYCFC and RSL are tied 1-1 heading into the halftime locker room.

Things started off well for City in the first five minutes with a goal from Ring. But since then, they’ve kinda fallen away in terms of intensity and decision making, allowing Salt Lake to knot the game up at a goal apiece.

37’: Goal. Savarino scores to tie it for Real Salt Lake.

NYCFC’s backline gets completely stretched on a nice sequence from RSL, allowing them in behind to get the tying goal. 1-1.

30’: This is when I think the absence of Maxi comes into play. There is nobody on this team as good at holding up the play and picking out those key passes than the little Argentinian genius. It hasn’t been bad so far. But you can tell something is missing.

17’: Ben Sweat goes to ground with an injury — he’s been replaced by Sebastien Ibeagha

12’: RSL nearly knots it up.

Salt Lake is given a 1-v-1 shot against Johnson, but the shot is wide. Incredibly fortunate for NYCFC

4’: GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!! The Ringleader draws first blood!

Despite Mitrita squandering a quality chance just minutes before, Alex Ring turns onto his left foot and fires one past Nick Rimando to give City an early 1-0 advantage. What a goal!

We’re off in Utah! Can City make it three straight wins?

Rosters are out! As mentioned earlier this week, Maxi is not on the team sheet tonight — Taty Castellanos will take his place tonight. Interestingly enough, Alex Callens isn’t on the team sheet at all. Ben Sweat is playing center back tonight, and Ebenezer Ofori returns to the XI with Keaton Parks going to the bench.

Rosters

New York City Starting XI:

  • Suspended: None
  • Suspended after next caution: Ben Sweat (D)
  • International Duty: None
  • Injury Report: OUT: Joe Scally (D) - hip injury, Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (F) - ankle injury

Real Salt Lake Starting XI:

  • Suspended: None
  • Suspended after next caution: Sebastian Saucedo (M), Everton Luiz (M)
  • International duty: None
  • Injury Report: OUT: Jordan Allen (M) - knee injury, Tony Beltran (D) - knee injury

DOUBTFUL: Sam Johnson (F) - quad injury

PROBABLE: Nedum Onuoha (D) - adductor injury, Albert Rusnak (M) - knee injury

Referees: Tim Ford (referee); Brian Poeschel, Michael A. Kampmeinert (assistant referees); David Barrie (4th official); Alejandro Mariscal (VAR)

How To Watch

Match date & time: August 3, 2019, 10:00 PM (ET)

Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, UT

Online streaming: Fox Sports Go (live stream)

TV: YES (tape delay)

Local radio: WNYE 91.5 FM — English, ESPN Deportes AM1050 — Spanish

All-time series: Despite enduring a two-game skid last month that brought an end to an 11-game unbeaten streak, New York City FC has returned to form in recent weeks, logging two straight wins against the Colorado Rapids and Sporting Kansas City, respectively. These clutch wins have put the Boys in Blue to 5th place in the Eastern Conference, just 4 points below the conference leaders with four games in hand.

Their opponents, Real Salt Lake, have gone three straight games without a loss and are just outside of the Western Conference playoff race in 8th place, with a win putting them into the tentative qualifying spots. Despite some inconsistency, RSL is not a team to be taken lightly, as the Philadelphia Union learned last month in a shock 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Claret & Cobalt.

NYCFC will also be without star player Maxi Moralez, which could play right into RSL’s hands should the latter play their cards right.

All-time, RSL has gotten the better of City more often than not with an impressive record of 3-1-0 (W-L-D) against the good guys.

This post will update with highlights and information as we receive it.

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