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SANDY — The game seemed like it was over before it even began.
Justen Glad fouled a Sporting Kanas City player outside the box 37 seconds into Saturday's regular-season home finale for Real Salt Lake. The foul earned him a red card in the third minute after a video review, and Erik Thommy slammed home the free kick in the fourth minute to go up 1-0.
"That was the first time as a player or coach that — two minutes in — you're down a man and down a goal," head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "It's one thing if the scoreline is even down a man."
Glad's red card foul was the second-fastest in MLS history after Joe Nasco's came 34 seconds into a match for the Colorado Rapids in 2014 — also coached by Mastroeni.
RSL was forced to play a man down for the remaining 87 minutes and conceded two more goals in the 29th and 77th minutes before Brayan Vera and Jefferson Savarino got two back in the 81st and 88th minutes, respectively.
Goal of the Week candidate from Vera #RSLpic.twitter.com/32IpBtYu2X
— Caleb Turner (@calebturner23) October 8, 2023
To add insult to an already fatal injury, RSL star striker Chicho Arango was forced to come off due to injury in the 28th minute, further lessening the chances of a comeback for the home team.
The Kansas City goal in the 77th minute was the result of a penalty called on Marcelo Silva, Glad's replacement on the back line. The late comeback attempt in the final 10 minutes fell just short of tying the game and earning RSL a much-needed point in a tight playoff race.
"It was one of the most valiant efforts I've ever seen to not quit and keep fighting," Mastroeni said of the two late goals. "I've been here for about two years now and I've never heard the stadium as loud as it was pushing the group. If we had five more minutes or another player we get at least a draw."
The 3-1 loss drops RSL to sixth place in the Western Conference — pending other results — outside of the top four and without a guaranteed home playoff game. RSL is still guaranteed a playoff spot, however, after clinching its third straight postseason berth following other results earlier in the week around the league.
The team hits the road for the final two weeks of the regular season, traveling to Los Angeles to face the Galaxy, and then finishing the season in Colorado.
