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SANDY — Real Salt Lake may have a three-match win streak on the road, but the team hasn't won at home since April 22.
The underwhelming play at America First Field continued Saturday with a 2-0 halftime deficit that ended in a 2-2 draw, with Justen Glad hitting an equalizer eight minutes into stoppage time to escape with a point.
"We go from down 2-0 and we salvage a point; and the way I look at it is 7 points in three games," RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "Any time you're above 2 points a game, you're in the playoffs. And more importantly for me, to keep that momentum going every day, that's a very powerful thing."
RSL now sits in sixth place in the Western Conference and is 5 points clear of 10th-place Portland, who is right below the playoff line.
The draw Saturday wasn't for a lack of chances for RSL; the home team hovered around 70% possession all night and put more than 20 shots on the board. RSL even had another goal just after halftime from Pablo Ruiz, but the strike from distance was disallowed due to an offside player. It was the second time VAR interfered with an RSL scoring chance Saturday. A penalty given to Bode Hidalgo in the 16th minute was called off following a review from the official.
Pablo Ruiz's 48th minute goal being looked at for a possible offside. And it is disallowed. #RSLpic.twitter.com/gGMKJZh4Gr
— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) June 25, 2023
There was plenty of player rotation for the home team, as has been the case this season with a crowded schedule featuring multiple games per week. Head coach Pablo Mastroeni elected to sit starters Damir Kreilach, Jefferson Savarino and Andrew Brody following the team's road win just three days ago in St. Louis.
The three players entered the match in the second half as RSL looked to mount a comeback. Danny Musovski started the rally with a goal on a long pass from Ruiz in the 79th minute, mere seconds after the striker sent a shot from inside the box well above the goal.
Diego Luna continued his impressive run of play following his return from the U-20 World Cup, going a full 90 minutes for the first time in his MLS career.
The 19-year-old player assisted on the eventual equalizer by Glad with a minute left in stoppage time as Braian Ojeda sent a cross to Luna on the left, who in turn found Glad immediately in the box.
"I think it was just massive that we got the result," Glad said. "Obviously, we haven't been getting results at home, which is disappointing for us and disappointing for our fans. At this point, it's still just about keeping the group going, keep climbing the table, make a run, and hopefully win some trophies."
RSL has a chance to extend its road win streak next week with a match in Toronto on July 1 at 5:30 p.m. MDT.
