Diego Luna scored the tying goal in the 76th minute as Real Salt Lake salvaged a 2–2 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night, Oct. 14, at Carson, Calif.
Anderson Julio also scored for Real Salt Lake, who overcame a 2–0 first-half deficit to avoid a costly setback.
The tie leaves Real Salt Lake (13–12–8, 47 points), one point behind the fourth-place Houston Dynamo in the competition for a top-four Western Conference playoff spot and home-field advantage in the first round. Salt Lake is tied with the Vancouver Whitecaps for the fifth-most points with one match remaining.
Dejan Joveljic and Douglas Costa scored goals for the Galaxy (8–13–12, 36 points), who are winless in their past five matches (0–2–3). Los Angeles is a disappointing 13th in the West.
The Galaxy have allowed 24 goals over their past eight matches.
Los Angeles’ 21-year-old Novak Micovic made his MLS debut in goal and had four saves.
Zac MacMath had five saves for Real Salt Lake.
Salt Lake had a 20–16 edge in shots but Los Angeles placed seven on target to RSL’s six.
Los Angeles struck in the seventh minute on Joveljic’s right-footed shot. It was his sixth goal of the season and was set up by Daniel Aguirre’s pass.
Costa’s goal made it 2–0 in the 34th minute. Joveljic sent a touch pass to Costa, who booted a left-footed shot into the right corner of the net for his third goal of the season.
Real Salt Lake got on the board in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Julio’s right-footed shot deflected off a Galaxy defender and found the back of the net. It was Julio’s fifth goal of the season.
In the 76th minute, Luna sent a right-footer through traffic that tipped the hand of Micovic before ending up in the net. It was Luna’s fourth goal of the season.
RSL had a solid chance in the 18th minute, but Andrew Brody sent a close-range right-footer off the crossbar.
RSL’s Marcelo Silva had an opportunity to score off a corner kick in the 64th minute, but his header went over the net.
