Diego Luna recorded a brace and Real Salt Lake kept the Los Angeles Galaxy winless by posting a 2-0 victory on Saturday afternoon at Sandy, Utah.
Luna scored the two goals in a five-minute span of the first half and Real Salt Lake (3-4-0, 9 points) controlled the rest of the contest. RSL halted a two-match losing streak.
The defending MLS champion Galaxy (0-5-2, 2 points) had just one shot on goal while continuing their horrific start. Los Angeles has scored just five goals in seven MLS matches.
That lone shot on target came in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time when Tucker Lepley’s left-footed shot was saved by Salt Lake’s Rafael Cabral, who recorded his second shutout of the season.
John McCarthy made one save for the Galaxy. He was in net because Maya Yoshida was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
The Galaxy had a 9-7 edge in shots.
Luna scored his first goal in the 21st minute. Alexandros Katranis sent a pass from the left flank toward the middle and Luna was stationed perfectly to send a right-footed shot into the net.
Luna made it 2-0 five minutes later as Zanka of the Galaxy failed to clear the ball away from danger in front of the net. Luna was right there to take possession and quickly booted a short left-footed shot into the net.
The Galaxy’s best attempt of the match came in the third minute of first-half stoppage time when Ruben Ramos Jr. sent a long right-footed blast just wide left of the net.
In the 88th minute, Los Angeles’ Eriq Zavaleta sent a header wide to the right.
The Galaxy aren’t resembling last season’s title-winning team. The loss of star Riqui Puig to an ACL injury four-plus months ago and the offseason trade of goal-scoring force Dejan Joveljic to Sporting Kansas City have muted the offense.
–Field Level Media
