SANDY, Utah (ABC4 Sports) – Real Salt Lake is off to a great start in the Leagues Cup afger a 2-1 victory over Atlas FC of Liga MX Thursday night at America First Field.
Nelson Palacio scored a 79th-minute world-class strike, providing the game-winner in front of a sold-out, standing-room only crowd of 20,956.
Despite a five-save first half from 19-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Beavers, it looked as though Atlas would hit the locker room with the halftime lead, the Mexican side scoring on a quick counterattack finished off by Luis Reyes in the 26th minute.
Regaining control of the play with just seconds left in the first half, RSL snatched an equalizer out of thin Utah air with a beautiful cross-header connection between Andrés Gómez and Anderson Julio in the 45+2’ minute.
In a contentious back-and-forth second half that saw both teams struggle to manufacture chances, it seemed as though the match might be heading to decisive penalty kicks. Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni inserted Palacio in the 78th minute.
Just a minute later, Palacio unleashed a world-class strike from nearly 40 yards out that soared over the defense and perfectly into the top corner with unbelievable pace, the “spider-killer” clearing the upper 90 cobwebs, providing instant eruption in the stands.
The strike would prove to be the match-winner, as RSL thoroughly controlled the match for the remaining minutes to earn the full three points and deny Atlas advancement to the knockout rounds just yet. The statsheet tells a story of two teams battling for every inch, RSL and Atlas within one of each other in shots, shots on goal, saves and fouls.
RSL will continue its quest for hardware in the second match of its Leagues Cup campaign on Monday, August 5, on the road at Houston Dynamo.
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