Maikel Chang Scores Consecutive Goals, Gives RSL Lead Over Timbers

SALT LAKE CITY – Midfielder Maikel Chang scored two goals in less than five minutes to give Real Salt Lake the lead over the Portland Timbers during a wild start to the second half of their U.S. Open Cup match.

The Timbers hosted RSL at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon on Wednesday, May 10.

Real Salt Lake owned a 2-1 lead at halftime before the Timbers jumped back in front with a couple of early second half goals.

In the 55th minute of play, Chang leveled the match with a goal.

Maikel Chang ☝️#RSLonKSL #RSL #USOC2023 #PORvRSL @rslshow pic.twitter.com/LUfcufCxZS

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 11, 2023

A few minutes later, the midfielder regained the lead for Real Salt Lake with another strike that found the back of the net.

Maikel Chang ✌️@TimbersFC 3@realsaltlake 4

59'#RSLonKSL #RSL #USOC2023 #PORvRSL @rslshow pic.twitter.com/0gGixWxOiP

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 11, 2023

After trailing following a Portland goal in the fourth minute of the contest, RSL’s first goal of the match came from Danny Musovski in the 30th minute.

A few minutes before halftime, Andrés Gómez scored to give Real Salt Lake its first lead of the night.

But after the break, Portland’s Justin Rasmussen (49th minute) and Jaroslaw Niezgoda (52nd minute) combined to score a pair of quick goals to open the fury of second half scoring.

This season in Major League Soccer, Chang has recorded one assist, three shots, and two shots on goal in seven games.

Real Salt Lake’s match against Portland is broadcast on YouTube and KSL Sports Zone.

Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake will make its way to the Pacific Northwest for a U.S. Open Cup fourth-round game against the Portland Timbers FC.

Real Salt Lake and Portland both faced off against USLC clubs in the third round and walked out with 3-1 wins. RSL over the Las Vegas Lights and Portland over the Orange County SC.

After no draws and no shutouts through the first eight games of the Major League Soccer season, Real Salt Lake’s previous two games against Seattle and Houston were scoreless draws.

RSL sits in the 11th seed in the MLS’s Western Conference with a 3-5-2 record. Portland holds the 9-seed with a 3-5-3 record.

LISTEN LIVE: @realsaltlake is in Portland to take on @TimbersFC in the @opencup on https://t.co/4kU961V8lp and the @KSLSportsZone.#RSL https://t.co/avwHPQyQwc pic.twitter.com/wVi6ZQoQX7

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 11, 2023

Along with a similar record, RSL and Portland share another similarity. A lengthy injury report. There is a total of 14 players who are listed as out or questionable between the two clubs.

RELATED: Real Salt Lake Crawl Into Fourth Round Of U.S. Open Cup

Most of the Timbers’ injuries come in the attacking end. They are missing Felipe Mora (striker), David Ayala (midfielder), Tega Ikoba (forward), and Eryk Williamson (midfielder). Dairon Asprilla (winger) and David Bingham (goalkeeper) are listed as questionable.

Jasper Löffelsend (ankle) and Erik Holt (shoulder) are listed as out for Real Salt Lake. Anderson Julio and Bode Hidalgo have both been upgraded to questionable as they fight through their hamstring injuries.

Midfielder Pablo Ruiz is set to return after missing the Houston road trip due to a yellow card suspension.

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