GK Gavin Beavers Gets Start For Real Salt Lake Against Columbus Crew
Apr 1, 2023, 5:42 PM | Updated: Apr 3, 2023, 12:44 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake manager Pablo Mastroeni gave homegrown goalkeeper Gavin Beavers the starting nod on the road against the Columbus Crew.
Columbus hosted RSL at Lower.com Field in Ohio on Saturday, April 1.
With the start, Beavers became the third youngest goalkeeper to start a match in Major League Soccer history.
Gavin Beavers is the 3rd youngest goalkeeper to start in MLS history. #RSL https://t.co/oQsSFOUXpy
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 1, 2023
Beavers replaced veteran Zac MacMath in Real Salt Lake’s starting lineup. The Utah-based MLS club has dropped its last three matches after winning its season opener.
In March, the RSL Academy product was named to the United States’ U-19 Youth National Team.
RELATED: Real Salt Lake Travel East For Clash With Crew
Real Salt Lake’s match against Columbus is broadcast on Apple TV+ via MLS Season Pass and KSL Sports Zone.
The XI for our rendezvous in the midwest.#CLBvRSL | #RSL pic.twitter.com/HaYc2vJQaZ
— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) April 1, 2023
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Manager Pablo Mastroeni and his roster are clearly frustrated with recent losses. However, they have reiterated throughout the week that the group remains confident as it attempts to emerge from its slump.
Fortunately, the club will be bolstered by the return of some key figures following last week’s international window with the likes of Braian Ojeda and Rubio Rubin returning to the main training group this week.
The pair will likely play a key role in this weekend’s fixture against Columbus.
Furthermore, Real Salt Lake is working on creating more goal-scoring opportunities. During the three consecutive losses, Real Salt Lake has only managed to score one goal. The playing group appears disoriented and lacking chemistry any time the ball enters their attacking third.
LISTEN LIVE: @realsaltlake is on the road to face @ColumbusCrew on the @KSLSportsZone (97.5 FM) or https://t.co/4kU961UAvR.https://t.co/MbMp9n5aJN pic.twitter.com/aRdQjX4dyX
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 1, 2023
“We have to be braver on the ball, to be more aggressive in the final third,” captain Damir Kreilach said on Thursday. I have always said that the defense starts in the attack and that the attack starts in the defense, meaning we have to be all on the same page.”
The numbers are also not in favor of Real Salt Lake this week. Their last trip to Columbus came in 2018 when they have not won in their previous seven attempts. In a combined 14 visits to Columbus, RSL has only managed two victories. The first occurred in 2006 and the second in 2009. It has been over a decade since RSL found all three points against the Crew.
The Real Salt Lake injury list is still a concern despite the return of others. Jefferson Savarino, Marcelo Silva, and Danny Musovski are all questionable ahead of this weekend’s clash. In a recent RSL social post, none of the three players questionable were shown in photos of the team boarding the plane.
Columbus currently sits 5th in the Eastern Conference having secured seven points from their opening five games. Real Salt Lake, on the other hand, are 10th in the Western Conference on just 3 points throughout their first four appearances.
