Olatunji's late goal in San Diego keeps Real Salt Lake unbeaten in 4 games

SANDY — Real Salt Lake was minutes away from its first defeat since the MLS season opener, but a former starter working his way back to full fitness had other plans Sunday afternoon on the road.

Sergi Solans scored his third goal in four matches, and Victor Olatunji buried his first of the year with five minutes remaining as Real Salt Lake stretched its unbeaten run to four straight with a 2-2 draw Sunday evening at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

It's the fifth goal in a Salt Lake shirt for Olatunji, who kept RSL (3-1-1, 10 points) tied for fifth near the top of the Western Conference with a road point that may — at least in some respects — have left the visitors wanting even more.

But in just 42 minutes of total play, the 26-year-old Nigerian international who scored four goals with one assist for Real Salt Lake in the final eight games of last year is already proving why the club signed the striker for a reported $2.5 million transfer fee.

"Four games without a defeat is pretty incredible," RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni said. "In this league, that's a feat.

"I think the quality, the commitment, and the fight have been top," he added. "When you have all of those, you put yourself in position to be a top team in this league."

Solans struck first, rushing into the box to meet a ball from Juan Manuel Sanabria for his third goal in four matches for Salt Lake.

The 23-year-old UCLA graduate from Spain rose up like a salmon, and put RSL in front in the 17th minute at Snapdragon Stadium.

The lead didn't last long.

Marcus Ingvartsen took advantage of chaos in the box, finishing off a rebound after Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Rafael Cabral made an initial save as San Diego equalized 10 minutes later.

RSL out-shot the hosts 9-8 in the first half. But San Diego held Salt Lake to a single shot on goal through halftime, when United States' World Cup hopeful Diego Luna replaced Aiden Hezarkhani. Don't read into that about Hezarkhani's play, though; Mastroeni praised the RSL Academy alum's run of five-straight starts — as well as the former first-round SuperDraft pick from Spain by way of Oregon State and UCLA.

"I'm really proud of the way Serg is performing, and Aiden Hezarkhani as well," the veteran coach said. "In order to have good teams, you have to have players who are competing for positions. Both of those young men are doing a fantastic job."

Anders Dreyer gave San Diego its first lead in the 56th minute, finishing off a counter led by Amahl Pellegrino to go in front 2-1.

But Olatunji — who returned a week ago from an eye injury suffered just days before the Feb. 21 season opener in Vancouver — redirected a cross from the right side from Noel Caliskan via a touch from Zavier Gozo to pull the visitors level in the 85th minute.

"We did not come for a tie," Olatunji told Apple TV after the match. "We never go away or home for a tie; we always want to take 3 points from every game.

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