Real Salt Lake turned a second-half deficit into three points at Q2 Stadium, beating Austin FC 2-1 in Wednesday’s Major League Soccer fixture after a decisive burst of goals.
Jorge Alastuey opened the scoring for Austin in the 52nd minute, only for Saba Lobjanidze to equalize in the 55th. Morgan Guilavogui completed the visitors’ comeback in the 61st, settling a contest whose three goals arrived within nine minutes.
A quiet scoreline gives way to a rapid turnaround
The sides reached halftime level at 0-0, leaving everything to play for after the interval. Guilavogui’s 35th-minute yellow card was the only booking of the opening half.
Austin made the breakthrough seven minutes after the restart through Alastuey, giving the hosts a lead that lasted just three minutes. Lobjanidze’s 55th-minute equalizer immediately restored parity and denied Austin the chance to settle into their advantage.
Six minutes later, Guilavogui put Real Salt Lake ahead. From trailing in the 52nd minute to leading in the 61st, the visitors had transformed the fixture—and that narrow advantage would survive through the final whistle.
RSL make their chances count
The overall numbers reflected a competitive contest. Real Salt Lake held 51.4 percent possession and attempted 20 shots to Austin’s 16, but the hosts registered more efforts on target, five to four. Austin also edged the corner count, eight to seven.
Ultimately, the visitors’ greater return from their shots on target proved decisive. Austin could not find the equalizer that would have earned a draw, and Real Salt Lake protected their 2-1 lead through a finish that extended to 90+10.
Austin goalkeeper Damian Las was booked in the 61st minute, while Alastuey received a yellow card in the 77th.
Next up
Both clubs return to MLS action on Saturday, October 31. Austin face LA Galaxy, while Real Salt Lake take on San Jose Earthquakes, with both fixtures scheduled for 2:00 p.m. PDT.
For Austin, the frustration lies in how quickly a promising lead disappeared. For Real Salt Lake, a swift response and two decisive goals delivered a valuable away victory.
