Sergi Solans scores 2 goals as Real Salt Lake win 3-0

Sergi Solans scored 2 goals as Real Salt Lake defeated New England Revolution 3-0 at Rio Tinto Stadium. The result places Real Salt Lake at #11 in the Western Conference and New England Revolution at #2 in the Eastern Conference.

How it happened

Aiden Hezarkhani put Real Salt Lake ahead in the 2nd minute, converting the home side’s early pressure into a 1-0 half-time lead. Solans doubled the advantage in the 62nd minute, with Noel Caliskan supplying the assist, before Solans struck again in the 80th minute after Morgan Guilavogui’s pass.

Real Salt Lake recorded 6 shots on goal from 9 total shots, while New England Revolution had 4 shots on goal from 16 attempts. The home side also kept New England without a goal despite facing 11 corner kicks.

The numbers

New England controlled 67% of possession and completed 535 accurate passes from 585 total passes. Real Salt Lake had 33% possession and completed 248 accurate passes from 303 total passes, but produced the clearer finishing outcome.

The visitors registered 8 shots outside the box and 7 shots off goal, while Real Salt Lake had 2 shots outside the box and no shots off goal. New England’s 8 shots inside the box compared with 7 for Real Salt Lake, yet the hosts’ 6 shots on goal proved more productive than New England’s 4.

Who decided it

Solans shaped the match with 2 goals, 4 shots on target and an 8.4 match rating across 86 minutes. His second-half double turned Hezarkhani’s early opener into a decisive Real Salt Lake result, while Guilavogui added 1 assist, 3 key passes and 4 tackles in 89 minutes.

Why it matters

Real Salt Lake have 32 points from 27 games in the Western Conference, with a 9W 5D 13L record and a -4 goal difference. New England Revolution have 46 points from 27 games in the Eastern Conference, with a 14W 4D 9L record and a goal difference of 9; the supplied table context lists a 14-point gap, but the teams’ positions come from different conferences.