Real Salt Lake Lose to Minnesota United in Wild Playoff Penalty Shootout

Real Salt Lake and Minnesota United FC competed in the first match of the 2024 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs on October 29, 2024. The contest was tense for fans, with neither team scoring throughout regular time. Minnesota would eventually take their first lead over Real Salt Lake in a heartbreaking 5-4 shootout after 90 minutes of regulation time and seven minutes of stoppage.

Strong Start for Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake opened with great control, keeping 60.4% of possession in the first half and completing 287 passes compared to 151 by Minnesota. The Loons, however, showed a penchant for making the most of their time on the ball, registering three shots against Real Salt Lake's lone attempt courtesy of Diego Luna.

The game heated up quickly when Real Salt Lake's Cristian Arango earned a free kick in the sixth minute, courtesy of a foul by Minnesota's Jefferson Diaz, who was yellow-carded on the play. The best Real Salt Lake could do, however, came when Minnesota's defense cleared the free kick.

Real Salt Lake continued to press, and Diego Luna managed another shot in the 13th minute, but Minnesota's goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair was up for the task as he made a very important save. In the 18th minute, Minnesota went on the counter, but Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Zac MacMath proved to be talented with a great save to keep it at goalless.

Defensive Tactics Dominate Game

The seesaw affair continued with Minnesota pushing hard into the second half against the Real Salt Lake defense. In the opening minutes of the half, Minnesota registered two shots on goal-seemingly both stopped smartly by MacMath, including a bold 49th-minute effort by Carlos Harvey. The defense continued to be on high alert as attackers of Minnesota, including substitutes Jeong Sang-Bin and Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi, repeatedly challenged Real Salt Lake's line.

To inject fresh legs in the match, Real Salt Lake manager Pablo Mastroeni brought on three second-half substitutes. Even with their captain, Arango, actively pushing with five attempts at goal, Minnesota's defense and goalkeeper kept Real Salt Lake from finding a breakthrough.

The Decisive Penalty Shootout

The game skipped extra time and went straight to penalties because neither team scored at the end of regulation. Early on, it appeared that neither team would gain an advantage over the other, as both committed their first two penalties. MacMath immediately provided Real Salt Lake with a key opportunity when he saved Michael Boxall's attempt, enabling up teammate Justen Glad for the winning shot.

He skied his attempt over the crossbar, squandering a good opportunity to take the lead. The penalties were neck and neck until Braian Ojeda of Real Salt Lake misplaced his team's final kick, hitting the crossbar. Jefferson Diaz secured the win for Minnesota United, confidently converting his penalty in the shootout finally ended 5-4 in favor of Minnesota United.

What's Next for Real Salt Lake?

Real Salt Lake will then have to win in Minnesota, in the second of the series of games, if their playoff dreams are going to stay alive. That would force a deciding third game, where Real Salt Lake could advance to the conference semifinals against either the Los Angeles Galaxy or Colorado Rapids.