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SANDY — It felt like the match was decided in the span of six minutes for Real Salt Lake on Saturday, with a pair of missed opportunities in the first half that returned to haunt the home team in a 2-1 loss to Austin FC in the first game at America First Field this season.
"I think goals change games, and I think if we find the second one there it changes the game," head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "Obviously, we weren't able to capitalize on that. And I think the frustrating part was the amount of space we left in the middle of the field."
RSL scored its lone goal in the 22nd minute to tie the game at 1-1 after Austin opened the scoring with an absolute rocket from outside of the box in the ninth minute by Jon Gallagher. Justen Glad got his second goal of the young season for the Claret and Cobalt on a header assist from Damir Kreilach to begin an offensive outpouring.
The two dynamic wingers, Andres Gomez and Jefferson Savarino, had back-to-back shots in the 26th and 28th minutes that could've put RSL comfortably ahead, but it wasn't in the cards. Gomez's shot, which followed some fancy footwork, sailed over the crossbar; and Savarino's point-blank shot from inside the box was barely saved by the keeper's foot.
Austin went on to score its second and game-winning goal in the 33rd minute on another impressive outside-the-box shot that was the game, at least on the scoreboard.
Fans got a bit of a scare in the 41st minute when captain Kreilach was shown a straight red card, but it was later lowered to a yellow following a video review.
RSL had several more shots on goal in the second half, and even outshot Austin 17-11 in the game, but none were as promising as the six-minute stretch from the 22nd to 28th minutes.
The team has a bye week next week before welcoming first-year club St. Louis on March 25 at America First Field.
