New Mexico tops RSL in Open Cup with 4-2 loss

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Real Salt Lake was eliminated in the Round of 32 of the U.S. Open Cup Wednesday in New Mexico after reaching all the way to the semifinals last year.

USL Championship side New Mexico United took it early to the No. 1 team in the MLS Western Conference on their home turf of Isotope Field with two goals in the opening 20 minutes and a 3-1 lead at halftime.

Fidel Barajas scored his first goal in an RSL uniform for the only score in the first half, and Diego Luna scored the second and final goal for the Claret and Cobalt in the 49th minute.

Luna’s attack just minutes into the second half made it a one-score match, 3-2, but Jacobo Reyes ended any hopes of an RSL comeback with New Mexico’s fourth goal in the 85th minute .

RSL made six changes to the starting line-up during the first Open Cup match, giving Zavier Gozo, Tommy Silva and Philip Quinton their first starts with the club.

Top scorer Chicho Arango came off the bench in the 82nd minute to try and find an equalizer, but Reyes closed that door three minutes later as the second division side secured a win in their first ever game against RSL.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for RSL after the defeat, who travel to the third-place team in the West in a classic match against the LA Galaxy on Saturday.

This story will be updated.