Real Salt Lake's two quick goals came from far better chances

Real Salt Lake beat Austin 2-1 after a six-minute spell that turned the game, and their chances were well above what they usually create on the road.

Austin scored first, through Jorge Alastuey after 52 minutes, and for a short while it looked as though the home side would keep control. Then came a spell of six minutes that changed the match. Saba Lobjanidze equalised at 55 minutes, finishing a move started by Juan Sanabria, and Morgan Guilavogui put Real Salt Lake ahead at 61 minutes, with Sergi Solans providing the assist. Austin never recovered from that double blow.

Expected goals, usually shortened to xG, is a rough measure of how good a chance was, adding up the likelihood that each shot would go in. Austin's total was close to what they usually produce at home, so their attacking quality was ordinary for them. The shot count was a different story. They took 16 shots, more than their usual home average of 10.7, but eight of those came from outside the box, and fewer of their efforts were dangerous.

Real Salt Lake were the side who made the most of their openings. They had 20 shots, against an average of 13.3 when they travel, and the quality rose with the volume. Fourteen of those attempts came from inside the penalty area, which is where most goals are scored from. Their xG was well above what they normally manage away from home, so the win was earned by chances rather than luck.

The possession figures tell a smaller story. Austin had 48% of the ball, below their usual home share of 51.9%, while Real Salt Lake had 52%, a little above their away average. Having less of the ball is not unusual for a side that wants to counterattack, and Austin still managed to get eight shots on target or close to it. Possession mattered less here than where the shots were taken from.

Late on, Austin thought they had a way back. At 74 minutes a penalty decision involving Myrto Uzuni was cancelled after a VAR check, which is the video review that looks at key moments. Austin were left to chase the game without it. Cabral made four saves in the Real Salt Lake goal, and Guilavogui was booked earlier but still scored, so his name appears in both the disciplinary and goal columns. No player was sent off.

Real Salt Lake sit 10th in the table with 39 points from 31 matches, and Austin are 14th with 34. Their away form has been the stronger part of Real Salt Lake's season, with 11 wins from 31 matches on the road. For Austin, the defeat leaves them with more goals conceded at home than scored there, a pattern that has now shown up in both their home and recent results.

Player of the matchJorge Alastuey1 goal8.2

M. Guilavogui1 goal8.2

S. Lobzhanidze1 goal7.6

Rafael Cabral4 saves7.3