Atlanta United lost 2-1 Friday night on the road at Real Salt Lake in front of 17,214 fans at Rio Tinto Stadium. Playing in its sixth match in 20 days, Atlanta looked to have secured a point in the second half, but Jefferson Savarino’s strike in the 94th minute proved to be the game-winner.
Real Salt Lake scored the game’s opening goal in the 36′ minute, as Sebastián Saucedo received a cross-field pass from Albert Rusnak on the right wing, drifted inside and launched a right-footed strike from outside the box past a diving Brad Guzan.
The home side nearly doubled its lead in the 50′ minute, when Rusnak found space at the top of the box and sent a low, deflected drive towards Atlanta’s goal. Guzan read the deflection and made a diving save to keep Atlanta within a goal. In the 78′ minute, second-half substitute Franco Escobar made a run down the right side, took the first touch past a defender and delivered a cross to Josef Martinez who hit a one-time finish into the net from inside the six-yard box to pull Atlanta United level.
The match looked to be headed for a 1-1 draw, but in stoppage time, Savarino received a pass in the center of the park. He dribbled past one defender and then blasted a strike into the top left corner from 25 yards out past Guzan for the game-winning goal.
Atlanta United (6-5-2, 20 points) returns to action Wednesday, May 29 against Minnesota United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (7 p.m. EST, FOX Sports South, Sports Radio 92-9 The Game).
STATS
Shots: 15-10 Salt Lake
Shots on Target: 5-3 Salt Lake
Corner kicks: 6-5 Salt Lake
Fouls committed: 14-10 Salt Lake
Clearances: 17-13 Atlanta
Offside: 3-1 Atlanta
Possession: 51-49 Atlanta
Passing Accuracy: 81-81
-Jon J.
Photo: Courtesy of ATLUTD