Game Chang-er: Rookie rallies Real Salt Lake to 4-1 win at Colorado in MLS restart

SALT LAKE CITY — Real Salt Lake needed a game-changer after falling behind the host Colorado Rapids 1-0 in the first half and being out-shot 10-4 while conceding a majority of possession.

What they got was a second-half game-Chang-er.

Maikel Chang had a goal and two assists, and Justin Meram added a goal and an assist to help Real Salt Lake rally past rival Colorado, 4-1 Saturday night in both clubs' first match in a home market — or outside of a neutral-site league tournament in Florida — since the coronavirus pandemic suspended Major League Soccer play in March.

Damir Kreilach and Corey Baird each added a goal for RSL (2-1-3, nine points), who won their fifth straight match against their Rocky Mountain rivals during a seven-match unbeaten run in the series.

“Honestly, he was our game-changer. But for me, he didn’t surprise me at all,” Kreilach said of Chang. “We train every day together, and everyone knows Chang’s quality. He showed today what he can do. To get one more player with his quality is a big thing for our team.”

Diego Rubio provided the lone first-half goal for the Rapids (2-2-2, seven points), which caromed off RSL defender Aaron Herrera in the 38th minute en route to a 1-0 halftime lead.

Colorado out-shot Salt Lake 10-4 in the first half and held RSL to just one shot on frame after 45 minutes.

It was a mostly forgettable first half for RSL, who retained nearly 60% of possession but rarely held the ball beyond midfield and scarcely threatened.

“I don’t think we played that well,” RSL defender Nedum Onuoha bluntly told KMYU at halftime. “But the fact is, we gave them a goal. We have to be cleaner, both in defense and in the attack.”

The visitors certainly improved after the break.

After Meram set up a rocket for Kreilach in the 57th minute, Chang began to do his magic as a halftime sub, replacing Everton Luiz that moved Kreilach to a more suitable forward-thinking role and pushing Albert Rusnak into the middle of the pitch.

“We had more guys in their natural positions,” Meram said, “and we were able to create more chances in the half.”

The rest was history from the 29-year-old native of La Habana del Este, Cuba, who burst on the scene a year ago for second-division Real Monarchs after defecting from his homeland.

Goals change games.

Kreilach’s goal did just that. And Chang’s goal changed the result.

The former Cuban international was in the right place to give RSL its first lead of the night in the 76th minute. Chang’s goal came after Kreilach had a run into the box saved by Yarbrough following a brilliant through-ball from Meram. But the ball fell right to Chang’s feet for a one-touch that slid past Rapids goalkeeper William Yarbrough for a lead that Salt Lake never gave back.

Chang set up RSL’s third goal of the night, flying down the right wing, shimmying past a Colorado defender, and cutting a pass inside to Baird for the final goal in the 85th minute. Just 3 minutes later, Chang repaid the favor to Meram with a cross in the box for the final tally.

“He’s a very tricky winger, very good on the ball,” Meram said of Chang. “Sometimes we don’t know if he’s left-footed or right-footed — and we play with him every day. He’s a great guy in the locker room, and he put in a lot of work.

“For him to sub on at half and have two assists and a goal, the performance speaks for itself. We should tip our hat to Chang; he was definitely man of the match. And hopefully more is to come from him.”

RSL coach Freddy Juarez was pressed to make a change from his starting lineup just 10 minutes into the match, after center forward Douglas Martinez Jr. left after taking a shot to the side of the head. The young Honduran international was replaced by Meram in the 15th minute, as RSL was able to take advantage of the five-substitute rule put in place by MLS in light of the pandemic.

It also leaves Salt Lake in a pickle, flying home immediately following the match to a recovery day Sunday and then with two days to prepare to host Los Angeles FC.

The club started a round of young players like Pablo Ruiz, who played all but the final 7 minutes of regulation and stoppage time, and left others like team captain Kyle Beckerman on the bench — with an eye on a stretch of five games in 16 days as MLS restarts for a second time during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I definitely had to rethink some stuff,” Juarez said. “We knew it was going to be tough, and we would have to manage guys. But I told the guys to enjoy tonight, and we’ll be back at it on Monday to move on to LAFC.

“It’s not concrete, but we’ve got to make sure we put the freshest players out there in every single game — but still be competitive.”

Wednesday’s match against LAFC, which will be played in front of a limited crowd at Rio Tinto Stadium, will kick off at 7:30 p.m. MDT. That will precede another match next Saturday, Aug. 29, at Portland Timbers FC.

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