Real Salt Lake 2 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 | 2018 MLS Match Recap

Dylan Butler

Luis Silva scored late in the first half and Jefferson Savarino struck late in the second half to lift Real Salt Lake to a 2-1 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC in a feisty clash of Western Conference foes Saturday night at Rio Tinto Stadium

Deep in first-half stoppage time and against the run of play, Silva gave Real Salt Lake (2-2-1) the lead on his first goal of the season. Brooks Lennon landed his service from the right touchline at the feet of Silva, who spun to avoid Efrain Juarez and put a shot that deflected off the heels of Jake Nerwinski past Stefan Marinovic for his first goal of the season.

Savarino insured RSL earned all three points two minutes from full time tapping in a ball cut back from Corey Baird after Damir Kreilach shed a tackle to run into space. Brek Shea pulled Vancouver (3-2-1) to within a goal with a stoppage-time strike on his third goal of the season, but RSL held on for an important home win.

It is the second consecutive home win for RSL, which defeated the New York Red Bulls 1-0 on March 17.

Goals

45’ + 4’ — RSL — Luis Silva | WATCH
88’ — RSL — Jefferson Savarino | WATCH
90’ + 2’ — VAN — Brek Shea | WATCH

Three Things

THE BIG PICTURE: Mike Petke questioned his team’s mentality following a 3-1 loss at Toronto FC and it was clear RSL responded with a hard-fought, gritty, playoff-type win against a Vancouver side that have wins at Houston and Columbus on its resume.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH: That first goal was always going to be huge, especially for RSL, with one win in their first four games. When Luis Silva scored his first goal of the second deep in first-half stoppage time, the Rio Tinto fans erupted and RSL’s confidence received a needed boost.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Brooks Lennon wasn’t just solid in the back — a Brek Shea-stoppage time goal the only thing separating RSL from a second straight home clean sheet — but he also provided the assist on Silva’s goal.