Real Salt Lake were denied a late home victory as Joaquín Pereyra struck in the 89th minute to earn Minnesota United FC a 1-1 draw in Major League Soccer on Saturday night at America First Field.
After a goalless first half, the match came alive late on. Sergi Solans appeared to have delivered the decisive moment when he put Real Salt Lake ahead in the 82nd minute, rewarding the hosts’ territorial control and sustained pressure.
RSL finished with 57.1% possession and put seven of their 13 shots on target, while also winning six corners. But Minnesota remained a threat from set-piece situations and attacking transitions, earning 10 corners and attempting 15 shots despite seeing less of the ball.
The visitors found their response with only a minute of normal time remaining. Pereyra’s 89th-minute goal leveled the contest and ensured Minnesota left Sandy with a deserved point after a resilient second-half display.
The opening 45 minutes had been tight and physical, with Zach Booth booked for Real Salt Lake in the 12th minute and Minnesota’s Jefferson Díaz cautioned in the 32nd. Lineker Rodrigues went into the book for RSL in the 56th minute, while Stijn Spierings was shown a late yellow card in stoppage time.
Solans’ 82nd-minute finish looked set to lift Real Salt Lake to all three points, but Pereyra’s dramatic intervention changed the complexion of the night. The result leaves RSL with an 8-3-6 record, while Minnesota move to 6-6-6.
It was a match of late swings at America First Field: Solans gave the home supporters hope, but Pereyra made sure Minnesota had the final say.
