Real Salt Lake played their toughest defense yet shutting out the visiting San Jose Earthquakes at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy Utah in MLS action on Sat Jun 18, 2022 (photo from @SJEarthquakes)
by Marko Ukalovic
SANDY, Utah — Jefferson Savarino was a one man wrecking crew.
Savarino tallied a goal and an assist in leading Real Salt Lake to a 2-0 shutout victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Real Salt Lake has won four of its past five matches. San Jose has lost two of its past three matches.
RSL (8-4-4) drew first blood in the 22nd minute off a set piece. Savarino sent in a corner kick into the middle of the box where Mareclo Silva beat Quakes goalkeeper with a right footed shot for his third goal of the season.
San Jose (3-7-6) played on the back of their heels for the majority of the first half and did not generate a shot on target in the first 45 minutes.
Marcinkowski kept the Quakes in the game with back to back point blank saves in the 48th minute.
Rubio Rubin’s header off a cross by Savarino was knocked away by Marcinkowski. Immediately after, Sergio Cordova’s shot attempt was gobbled up by Marcinkowski.
RSL put the game away in the 81st minute thanks to a turnover by Jackson Yueill. His header went back into the box where Savarino one touched it up in the air before buying a shot past Marcinkowski for his second goal of the season.
The Quakes best chance to score came in the 89th minute when Nathan’s header hit off the crossbar from a corner kick.
RSL goalkeeper Zac MacMath only needed to make one save to earn the clean sheet. Marcinkowski finished with four saves on six shots on target in the losing effort.
GAME NOTES: San Jose finished the match with three corners kicks. Real Salt Lake had 10.
San Jose is 14-13-11 all time against RSL, including 5-7-7 on the road.
The Quakes were without Cade Cowell and Nico Tsakiris who were both playing for the USMNT U-20 squad. Each scored a goal in USA’s 10-0 win over Saint Kitts and Nevis.
UP NEXT: San Jose hosts the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday 6/25 at 7:00pm at Stanford Stadium in the first installment of the California Classico.
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