RSL collapses in second half of 3-0 loss in Austin

SANDY — Moussa Djitte got the first hat trick in Austin FC history Wednesday in just 22 minutes of play, and Real Salt Lake was unable to find any goals itself in a 3-0 loss on the road.

"You can't keep saying we're playing well and not get results," head coach Pablo Mastroeni said after the loss. "I thought for 60 minutes we played some of our best stuff in a very difficult place to play. And what's disappointing is, when players come into the games they have to bring a level of desire, competitiveness; you've got to bring a spark, you've got to be able to change the game."

RSL is now scoreless in three-straight matches for the first time since 2017 and sits right on the precipice of possibly missing out on the playoffs following a run to the Western Conference final last season.

Austin pressured the RSL goal early and was able to exploit some mistakes from the back line that was missing its captain Marcelo Silva. Striker Maxi Urruti sent a shot off the crossbar in the fifth minute and MVP front-runner Sebastian Driussi fired a shot off the rebound that skied above the goal.

RSL had its first two shots on goal in the 20th and 21st minutes when 18-year-old Diego Luna got the ball on the left edge of the box and fired a left-footed shot right at the keeper, followed by a header from Andrew Brody that, once again, bounced into the goalie's hands.

Aaron Herrera launched a long ball from the backfield in the 28th minute and found Rubio Rubin entering the box, but the forward struck the ball just wide in front of goal.

"In the first half we seemed like we were dominant, honestly," Herrera said after the game. "Credit to all the guys who played who haven't been playing much; they came in, they played with confidence and they put together an unreal first half."

The road team led 10-4 in total shots at the half and was favored with a 0.4-0.2 expected goal difference. The score line and possession battle were both tied at the break, however, with RSL unable to find the difference through 45 minutes.

RSL combined for a promising attack on the left flank early in the second half when Bryan Ovideo found Anderson Julio, who nutmegged a defender to get Luna the ball in the box in the 53rd minute. Luna looked to slot it far post but Emiliano Rigoni recovered and sent the ball out of bounds just before Luna could get the shot off.

Djitte came on for Urruti somewhat surprisingly in the 58th minute, and Djitte almost immediately made a run into the box and scored off a cross from Diego Fagundez in the 60th minute.

The blame fell squarely on center-back Johan Kappelhof, who lost his mark on Djitte and set RSL back after the road team led on the offensive end for most of the match to that point.

"Once you give up the first one the floodgates are definitely open," Herrera said of Djitte's first goal.

The subs started to come on for RSL immediately following the goal, with usually-starting striker Sergio Cordova coming on for Rubin and then Danny Musovski and Justin Meram entering the game as the away team searched for an equalizer.

Austin continued to pressure the goal as RSL struggled to gain back any momentum. Djitte got his second goal off the bench in just 18 minutes of play in the 76th minute after the ball fell into the box after a corner and the back line was, once again, unable to clear it for RSL.

Djitte got his hat trick just minutes later as he found himself unmarked with the ball in the box and slotted home his third of the night.

RSL will look to gain some points in the playoff race Saturday at home when it takes on FC Cincinnati at 7:30 p.m. MDT.

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