In a season rife with comeback victories, Real Salt Lake flipped the script on Saturday night.
RSL scored 43 seconds into the game and beat Atlanta United 5-2 at America First Field in Sandy.
Matt Crooks put RSL ahead in the first minute with assists from Braian Ojeda and Diego Luna. Ojeda made a run up the right side of the field and passed the ball to Luna, who sent it across the front of the goal to Crooks, who scored from the left side.
Luna had a goal and three assists as RSL (12-3-7) won its second straight game after a 1-0 loss to the LA Galaxy on June 22. The loss to the Galaxy snapped RSL’s 15-game Major League Soccer unbeaten streak.
The victory over Atlanta lifted RSL into a tie with LAFC atop the MLS Western Conference standings, though LAFC has played one fewer game and will face Houston on Sunday.
Atlanta’s Saba Lobjanidze scored an equalizer in the 31st minute, with assists from Daniel Rios and Bartosz Slisz.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Real Salt Lake midfielder Braian Ojeda (6) celebrates after scoring a goal, in MLS action between Real Salt Lake and Atlanta United, in Sandy, on Saturday, July 6, 2024.
Ojeda scored in the 59th minute to give RSL a 2-1 lead.
Chicho Arango stretched the lead to 3-1 in the 68th minute off an assist from Luna. Arango’s goal was his 17th of the season, tying a club single-season record set by Alvaro Saborio.
RSL’s Alexandros Katranis made it 4-1 in the 78th minute off an assist from Luna.
Rios scored for Atlanta (6-11-6) in the 80th minute to make it 4-2.
Luna finished the scoring in the 84th minute off an assist from Maikel Chang.
Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Gavin Beavers had two saves in the game, while Atlanta’s Brad Guzan had one.
RSL now faces a stretch of three straight road games, beginning next Saturday at Portland (8 p.m. MDT, Apple TV and FS1).
