Real Salt Lake narrowly avoided a Cupset on Tuesday night, erasing a two-goal deficit to defeat USL club Wilmington Hammerheads 2-2 (3-1) after a penalty kick shootout at Rio Tinto Stadium to advance to the US Open Cup Round of 16.
One of the biggest reasons RSL survived on Tuesday was the smallest man on the field, Joao Plata. The diminutive Ecuadorian came on early in the second-half, scored Salt Lake’s first goal in the 64th minute, then converted his penalty to help RSL claim the shootout.
His 64th-minute strike is why we’re here, however. Check out this golazo:
The MLS Etihad Airways Player of the Month for March, Plata has five goals and six assists in 11 regular season games this year. RSL will return to league play on Saturday, when they’ll host the Portland Timbers at Rio Tinto Stadium (10 pm ET; MLS LIVE).
