Diego Luna, Chicho Arango lead RSL past Atlanta United 5-2
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Real Salt Lake forward Cristian Arango (9) celebrates his goal against Atlanta in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. RSL won 5-2. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
SANDY, Utah (AP) — Christian “Chicho” Arango scored his MLS-leading 17th goal of the season, Diego Luna added a goal and three assists and Real Salt Lake beat Atlanta United 5-2 Saturday night.
Chicho’s header off a corner kick was blocked by defender Derrick Williams but Braian Ojeda was there for the putback, spinning as he whipped a volley into the net to give Real Salt Lake a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute.
Chicho scored on a header, off a perfectly-placed free kick by Luna, in the 68th and Alexandros Katranis played a one-touch shot off a corner kick by Luna that found the net in the 78th minute and made it 4-1.
Daniel Ríos answered moments later, heading home a cross by Brooks Lennon from the right side to the back post in the 80th before Luna capped the scoring in the 84th minute, when he scored from the center of the area.
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Real Salt Lake midfielder Matt Crooks (25) celebrates his goal against Atlanta United in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake midfielder Braian Ojeda (6) leaps over Atlanta United defender Noah Cobb (24) in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake forward Carlos Andrés Gómez (11) and Atlanta United midfielder Bartosz Slisz (6) fight for the ball in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Gavin Beavers (35) makes a save against Atlanta in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake midfielder Matt Crooks (25) celebrates his goal against Atlanta United in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Gavin Beavers (35) makes a save against Atlanta in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake forward Carlos Andrés Gómez (11) complains about a call in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Atlanta United midfielder Saba Lobzhanidze (9) celebrates a goal in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Gavin Beavers (35) makes a save against Atlanta in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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RSL fans react to a goal against Atlanta in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake forward Cristian Arango (9) is injured in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. RSL won 5-2. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake forward Cristian Arango (9) celebrates his goal against Atlanta in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. RSL won 5-2. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake forward Cristian Arango (9) celebrates his goal in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. RSL won 5-2. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake forward Carlos Andrés Gómez (11) pressures Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan (1) in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. RSL won 5-2. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake defender Alexandros Katranis (98) celebrates his goal against Atlanta in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. RSL won 5-2. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake midfielder Diego Luna (8) reacts after missing a goal in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. RSL won 5-2. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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RSL coach Pablo Mastroeni shouts instruction in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. RSL won 5-2. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake defender Alexandros Katranis (98) celebrates his goal against Atlanta in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. RSL won 5-2. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Real Salt Lake defender Alexandros Katranis (98) celebrate his goal against Atlanta in Sandy on Saturday, July 6, 2024. RSL won 5-2. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Atlanta (6-10-6), which had a four-game unbeaten streak snapped by a 2-1 to the New England Revolution last time out, has lost back-to-back games.
Salt Lake (12-3-7) has just one loss in its last 18 games, dating to a 2-1 home loss to the Colorado Rapids on March 9.
Ojeda, racing down the middle of the field, pushed a pass wide to Luna, who played a one-touch cross to the center of the area where a charging Matt Crooks put away a half-volley to give Real Salt Lake a 1-0 lead just 43 seconds into the game — the fifth-fastest goal in franchise history.
Saba Lobjanidze scored in the 31st minute to make it 1-1. Lobjanidze, working from left to right, tapped a pass to Ríos, who back-heeled it back to Lobjanidze for the one-touch finish from the center of the area in the 31st minute.
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