Damir Kreilach's brace sends RSL past St. Louis City

Damir Kreilach scored two second-half goals to give Real Salt Lake another road victory, a 3-1 result over St. Louis City on Wednesday.

Salt Lake improved to 5-3-2 in away games this season, good for a league-leading 17 points on the road. RSL are unbeaten in their past six road games (4-0-2), and they haven't lost in their past four games overall (3-0-1).

The Wednesday result gave Salt Lake (7-5-7, 21 points) some revenge for its initial meeting with St. Louis. The first-year team stunned RSL with a 4-0 win on March 25 in Sandy, Utah.

St. Louis City (9-3-6, 29 points) are 0-3-1 in their past four games, the longest winless drought of their inaugural season. St. Louis has a 6-3-1 record in home games.

Diego Luna's first career MLS goal gave Real Salt Lake the lead in the 15th minute. Danny Musovski's cross was cannily sidestepped by Kreilach, as the 19-year-old Luna was in better position to bury the chance.

Nicholas Gioacchini's header equalized for St. Louis City six minutes later. It was Gioacchini's eighth goal of the season, and the forward is on a three-game scoring streak.

Luna followed up his breakthrough tally by playing a key role in setting up the game-winning goal. In the 48th minute, Luna worked hard to retain possession of the ball just outside the St. Louis box, then passed to Maikel Chang. A quick back-heel pass from Chang found Kreilach, who converted from within the box.

Kreilach completed his brace in the 66th minute. Andrew Brody raced to catch up to a loose ball, and then crossed to Kreilach in the middle for the final touch.

After missing most of the 2022 season due to back surgery, Kreilach has rebounded for four goals in 16 games during the 2023 campaign.

RSL won despite missing four regulars (Anderson Julio, Rubio Rubin, Jefferson Savarino, Braian Ojeda) to international duty.

St. Louis remains without injured midfielder Eduard Lowen and forward Joao Klauss.