3 Points: RSL drops chances, Galaxy clinch, and it all comes down to Decision Day
3 Points: RSL drops chances, Galaxy clinch, and it all comes down to Decision Day
Sergio Cordova scored his ninth goal of the season in Real Salt Lake's 1-1 road draw with the LA Galaxy, which wasn't enough to book a postseason berth but didn't eliminate RSL, either.
Technically, Real Salt Lake’s final road match of the regular season wasn’t a must-win scenario for the club’s playoff hopes, despite what the official prematch press release headline’d.
But the trip to Carson, California sure had that kind of feeling around it.
So what is to be made of a tie?
Sergio Cordova scored off a header in the first half, and Douglas Costa equalized from the spot as the host LA Galaxy clinched a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2019 with a 1-1 draw Saturday evening.
The Galaxy (13-13-7, 47 points) have won four matches with five draws and only one loss since mid-August to secure their spot in the postseason.
An early run of opening minutes that included back-to-back-to-back corner kicks were run afoul as the Galaxy rallied into possession in the first half. Los Angeles nearly took a lead when Riqui Puig drew a penalty in the 17th minute, but Zac MacMath stepped up to save the Catalonian international’s attempt.
Cordova made the miss count in the 26th minute, flicking a header on frame from Aaron Herrera that bounded into the back of the net to give RSL (11-11-11, 44 points) the 1-0 lead.
Andrew Brody earned a second assist on the goal, his sixth helper of the year for Real Salt Lake as the visitors had as much as all the momentum early — which probably explains why it felt like points dropped, MacMath said after the match.
“Probably a fair result overall, but I thought that the team did a really good job putting ourselves into a position to win this game,” the veteran goalkeeper added. “Unfortunately, that’s how it works sometimes. We couldn’t find that second goal. Now we’ve got to wait and see, come home next week, and beat Portland.”
Costa equalized in the 68th minute from the penalty spot, placing a well-struck kick underneath the crossbar to pull the Galaxy back even in a crucial home match for the Angelenos of Carson.
Justen Glad had two chances to pull back the smash-and-grab winner in stoppage time, but one header smashed into the ground in front of goal and the other flew over the crossbar.
If you see the RSL homegrown around Salt Lake City on Sunday afternoon, give him a hug.
“The most important thing is that those are offensive aspects of the game and really, his responsibility is to do what he did for 90+ minutes tonight defensively,” RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni said of Glad. “The back line, Zac, the wing backs, I thought they were fantastic tonight. Obviously, scoring goals is the icing on the cake, but for me the work that he did defensively, organizing, and this contribution. Offensively, those moments happen and they’re tough. But again, his responsibility is not to score those goals, it’s to defend the way he did.
“I’m going to make sure that he knows that he had a fantastic game.”
In the end, LA out-shot RSL 16-11, including 8-5 shots on target, so a 1-1 draw is probably fair — and was all the Galaxy needed to clinch a playoff berth (by currently moving into a top-four position in the West).
And RSL wasn’t eliminated from the playoffs with the draw. Still on the outside and needing a little help (more on that in a minute), it all comes down to Decision Day next Sunday against Portland (3 p.m. MT, KMYU).
Fortunately, the RioT lives forever at America First Field, right?
The MacMath almost added up
MacMath stopped a penalty in the first half, but couldn’t repeat history in the second against one of the worst penalty-taking teams in MLS history in the Galaxy.
Of course, going 1-for-2 in a one-on-one duel with an attacking player from inside the 18 isn’t bad. But 2-for-2 certainly would’ve felt a lot better.
It was MacMath’s third penalty save of the year for the former MLS journeyman who has found a home between the posts in Sandy.
“We did some scouting beforehand, so I’ve got a pretty good idea of tendencies for their top penalty takers,” MacMath said. “At that point of the game, you’re running on adrenaline and hoping to get something to it. Thankfully, I got two good paws to it.”
It was the fifth missed penalty of the year for the Galaxy, who went 8-of-13 from the spot in 2022 to equal an all-time MLS record for misses in a season (tying the Chicago Fire and Tampa Bay Mutiny in 2000).
MacMath finished the night with seven saves.
#Scoredova — again
Sergio Cordova has been everything RSL could’ve wanted in a one-year mercenary from German Bundesliga side (and fellow member of the David Blitzer Football Group) FC Augsburg on Feb. 3, 2022.
The Calabozo, Venezuela native has nine goals and two assists in 32 appearances, including 26 starts, for Real Salt Lake. But those numbers don’t begin to magnify the impact of the 6-foot-2 striker.
Cordova has found the back of the net when RSL has needed it most, scoring in three consecutive matches in August to keep Salt Lake’s playoff hopes alive. He’s converted 71% of his passes, conceded just 28 fouls to 43 fouls against, and only has two yellow cards in his lone season in Major League Soccer.
That’s a strong run of form for “La Pantera,” who joined Augsburg in 2017 and scored seven goals in 75 matches. But should the club try to buy his rights outright after the season?
Team sources confirmed that RSL has an option to buy the 24-year-old forward’s contract from Augsburg after his loan expires (though the club’s release didn’t mention one), though it’s unclear if that option will be utilized. he two share an owner, however — so it’s fair to assume those conversations would be had in some fashion after the season concludes, and also based on the best-fit scenario for both Cordova and both clubs.
What do you think, though? Should Salt Lake pursue a purchase of the Venezuelan international from Blitzer’s European consortium? Leave your responses in the message boards below.
Mil gracias, San Jose
Thanks to the Earthquakes’ 2-0 victory over Minnesota United in a match that kicked off just before the late kick at Dignity Healthy Sports Park, RSL’s playoff aspirations maintained a glimmer of hope.
Shea Salinas and Benjamin Kikanovic each scored a second-half goal for the already eliminated Quakes, which kept the Loons at 45 points and seventh place in the Western Conference.
That’s just one point ahead of RSL after the tie in Southern California, meaning Salt Lake will need some help and a win in the season finale against Portland to claim a playoff berth — while Vancouver could also theoretically leapfrog both RSL and Minnesota with the right combination of results.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t find the second goal, but I believe the team put themselves into positions to score the second goal,” Mastroeni said. “Of course, now the reality is we have to win this weekend and hope that other results fall in our favor.”
Minnesota hosts the ‘Caps in perhaps the ultimate win-or-go-home Decision Day drama for both teams. RSL will need the two teams to tie or Vancouver to win in addition to a victory over the Timbers next Sunday to slide into the postseason.
Portland also must draw or lose to LAFC on Sunday before coming to Sandy. A win over the Angelenos would solidify the Timbers’ own postseason aspirations, further crowding the pot.
In other words …
Anybody seen that before?
Ricky Puig was Spanish International player, not Catalonian International, that no exist. Catalonia is not separate country (actually, I hope ever)