By Tony Álvarez
Another Leagues Cup thriller—quickly becoming a tournament trademark—as Real Salt Lake edged Club América in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw in regulation, securing the valuable points in front of a passionate crowd.
Emotions ran high throughout the game, with both teams creating plenty of chances, but all the goals came in the first half after Club América generated several dangerous opportunities. Isaías Violante fired a powerful shot, only to be denied by goalkeeper Rafael Cabral—a pattern that would repeat itself throughout the match.
Then a key mistake proved to be costly, when Israel Reyes lost a ball in the backline and William Agada shot it only to see Luis Ángel Malagón block it, however Diego Luna came in after a rebound and put the ball in the back of the net to open up the scoring in the 16 minute.
Everyone knows why Club América is a big club and after a foul given, Brian Rodríguez delivered a screamer on the free kick to tie things up in the 42 minute. With that said, the home team was not going to be denied and in stoppage time in the first half Agada made his presence felt once again, after a cross from the right and he delivered a solid header that bounced off the crossbar landing just over the goal line at the 45+2 minute mark.
In the second half the tension was high, as both teams generated on offense but couldn´t capitalized and if you don´t put this Liga MX team away, they will come back and that is just what happened. Las Águilas are never out of it and they got the equalizer near the end, after another massive shot this time by Erick Sánchez in the 90+7 minute to send the game to penalty kicks.
In the shootout, Pablo Ruiz scored for Real Salt Lake to put them ahead, however once again Cabral was key to help his team as he saved Henry Martín´s shot. Both teams traded goals but after Brayan Vera scored, Cabral once more saved a shot, this time against Israel Reyes. Malagón gave Club América a chance after saving Braian Ojeda´s penalty, however the Real Salt Lake goalkeeper lived up to the hype as he saved José Raúl Zúñiga´s shot from the spot to secure the two points for his team to end another close intense game in the Leagues Cup.
REACTIONS:
- Club América head coach André Jardine
- “A bad taste at the end, the draw at the end allowed us to get a point which is important. We're aware of the tournament format, and we have to get at least seven points which forces us to win from now on"
- Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni
- “I hadn't had the opportunity to work with a goalkeeper of Rafa's quality and skills and what we've seen in the last month he has been the voice in the locker room, he's great and makes the players believe.”
- “I think it’s really tough, penalty kicks are really tough, is 99% psychological and 1% technique, is a nine yard pass an there is a goalkeeper but you gotta believe in yourself to score the goal.”
PLAYERS OF THE MATCH:
- Real Salt Lake
- Goalkeeper Rafael Cabral was sensational during the penalty shootout to help his team get the win
GAME NOTES:
- It wasn't just in the shootout, Rafael Cabral also had eight saves in regulation and then made three saves in the PK's
- José Raúl Zúñiga missed his penalty in his Club América Leagues Cup debut
- Club América had 19 shots in the game but only managed to score twice
- Brian Rodríguez and Erick Sánchez scored América's goals, with Sánchez equalizer coming from outside the box with seconds remaining before the final whistle
- Real Salt Lake had zero corner kicks in the game
CARDS/INJURY REPORT:
- Yellow Cards
- Club América: Israel Reyes, Igor Lichnovsky, Erick Sánchez
- Real Salt Lake: Diego Luna
LOOKING AHEAD:
- Club América will play their second game against Minnesota United FC on August 2
- Real Salt Lake will play their second game against Atlético de San Luis on August 2
