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Match review: RSL newcomer Fougerolles scores first MLS goal in draw
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- Match review: RSL newcomer Fougerolles scores first MLS goal in draw
Fougerolles (44) before scoring for Real Salt Lake. | RSL
Real Salt Lake battled hard against the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night at America First Field, ultimately seeing a 1-1 draw against the club. The lone RSL goal was courtesy of newcomer and Canadian-international Luc de Fougerolles, who notched a late second-half goal in a bittersweet match that celebrated Hispanic Heritage Night in Sandy, Utah.
Fougerolles scores after making first RSL start
Joining the Salt Lake roster in September, Fougerolles made his first MLS appearance in last week's match against the Philadelphia Union, the game also saw his first assist in the league. His second appearance for the Claret-and-Cobalt marked his first MLS start when he joined the starting XI for his new club for the first time against the Earthquakes on Wednesday night in front of 19,783 home fans.
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After countless attempts on goal throughout the entirety of the match by both teams, with no side able to convert, Fougerolles found his opportunity in the 79th minute. After receiving the ball from Uruguayan international JuanMa Sanabria, Fougerolles rocketed a shot into the bottom corner of the net, scoring the first goal of the match and giving RSL a 1-0 lead. The goal marks Fougerolles' first for RSL, and his inaugural MLS goal, coming after the 20-year-old made five appearances and four starts this summer for Canada in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Quotable
"(Fougerolles) has been top. He's been in every aspect of the game. The physicality, the competitiveness he brings, is something that we've been starving for. And I think it's rubbing off on the other guys, because Kobi played a great game, fantastic. Phil did a great job too. There were a ton of positives but results, at the end of the day, are what validate our work. And I think this result today was one where soccer can be cruel at times, and that's what it felt like tonight." — RSL Head coach Pablo Mastroeni on the Fougerolles' impact
Game summary
Head coach Pablo Mastroeni made three changes to the starting lineup from the Club's 2-1 loss against Philadelphia Union last Saturday, inserting Fougerolles, Sanabria and midfielder Saba Lobjanidze into the starting XI.
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The match began as a back-and-forth battle, the first play for a goal happening when Lobjanidze sent a cross to Fougerolles, who rocketed a shot into the right post, barely missing the net in the 11th minute.
The Earthquakes responded by taking shots on goal in the 16th and 25th minutes, both attempts blocked by Salt Lake who prevented their opponents from finding the net. RSL regained composure, making multiple chances on goal, with Morgan Guilavogui curling an effort in the 43rd minute that was narrowly saved by the Earthquake keeper, ultimately leaving both sides scoreless when the halftime whistle blew.
Salt Lake returned to the pitch with a relentless energy, once again with intense attacking energy. In the 49th minute midfielder Noel Caliskan attempted a header that was narrowly saved before Guilavogui sent a shot into the bottom right corner, seconds after his shot narrowly didn't convert, MLS-rookie Sergi Solans attempted another header, stinging the hands of the Earthquakes keeper and maintaining a score of 0-0.
The efforts kept coming, with Kobi Henry sending a shot toward goal that sailed just over the crossbar in the 62nd minute, and Lobjanidze firing an attempt that saved in the 65th minute. It was only a matter of time before one of the many endeavors converted, and that chance came for RSL in the 79th minute when Sanabria sent a perfectly-timed ball to Fougerolles, the defender was ready, placing the ball into the bottom left corner of the net and scoring the first goal of the match, giving Real Salt Lake a late 1-0 lead. Moments after scoring the goal, Fougerolles was subbed out of the match in the 82nd minute due to potential injury.
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Despite the grit and determination of the home club, San Jose found the net in the 94th minute, equalizing the score in stoppage time and cementing a 1-1 draw in the final moments of the match.
Up next
Real Salt Lake now heads to Sporting Park to take on Kansas City on Saturday, Oct. 17, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. MDT. The match is available to stream exclusively on AppleTV. The club then returns home to America First Field to host St. Louis on Saturday, Nov. 7 with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. MDT. Tickets for the match are available at RSL.com .
RSL starting XI before facing off against San Jose. | RSL
Lobjanidze (12) takes on two San Jose defenders. | RSL
The Riot celebrates Hispanic Heritage Night at American First Field. | RSL
Fougerolles (44) subbing out of the match after scoring for RSL. | RSL
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