Morgan Guilavogui notched a brace and visiting Real Salt Lake stayed alive in the Western Conference playoff picture with a 3-1 win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night.
Rookie Sergi Solans added his 12th goal of the season as RSL (10-14-6, 36 points), which pulled within two points of the Colorado Rapids for the ninth and final spot in the West playoffs. RSL won for just the second time in 17 matches, dating back to May, by earning a 13-10 advantage in shots and an 8-3 margin in shots on frame.
Guilavogui administered the clinching blow in the 61st minute. After Kansas City’s failed clearing attempt, Noel Caliskan dribbled down the left side and put the ball on Guilavogui’s right foot. A quick shot whizzed into the right corner for his fourth goal of the season.
Taylor Calheira scored the lone goal for Kansas City (6-20-4, 22 points), which maintained the league’s worst record and saw its current winless streak stretch to four games (0-3-1).
Poor defense has defined Kansas City’s season. It has allowed a league-worst 75 goals in 30 matches and again displayed an inability to maintain a consistent defensive shape, particularly in the first 15 minutes as RSL established their working margin for the night.
Guilavogui struck first at the end of a shrewd passing sequence in the 11th minute. Juan Manuel Sanabria played the ball near the end line and slipped a pass to Caliskan. He found Guilavogui running down the left side and he slotted a shot into the right corner.
Solans doubled the lead three minutes later as the result of a fortuitous deflection that exposed poor team defense. A Kansas City defender got his foot on a pass, but it found Solans’ right foot near the right post and he made no mistake.
Calheira pulled a goal back in the 26th minute after a tremendous individual effort by Andre Luiz. He split two defenders on a brilliant run down the right side, pulled up and serviced Calheira in the left side of the box. Calheira converted for his fourth goal.
–Field Level Media
