RSL lets guard down against Galaxy in 3-2 loss at home

SANDY — Real Salt Lake's social media invoked a "Guardians of the Galaxy" theme in its match day graphic on Saturday, but there wasn't much guarding at America First Field in a 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy.

"We can do a lot better in really managing the emotional roller coaster of the game," head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "You want to get after it and keep the foot on the gas, and in doing so open up a lot of space in the middle."

The Galaxy sat in last place in MLS coming into the match and hadn't scored a goal on the road in MLS play since March 4. But LA ended the night with three goals on RSL's turf and returned home with 3 points after accruing just 9 in 14 matches to this point in the season.

Despite a 1-0 halftime deficit due to a questionable handball call on Damir Kreilach, RSL quickly found hope with goals in the 51st and 67th minutes from Danny Musovski and Pablo Ruiz to take a 2-1 lead in front of the home crowd.

The lead was shortlived, however, as RSL's defense fell asleep and let in two quick goals in the 72nd and 74th minutes to suddenly trail 3-2 at home to the last-place Galaxy.

The defensive collapse resulted in RSL's fourth loss at home in the first 15 games of the season.

RSL hits the road this weekend to take on Austin FC on Saturday before returning home to once again face the Galaxy in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on June 7.

"We have another game in three days, which means it's short memory," captain Damir Kreilach said. "We have to see what we didn't do very well and try to fix it for the next game and improve offensively to try to score more goals and then win the game."

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