Atlanta, GA
RSL Dominant in 5-2 Home Trouncing of Atlanta United | Real Salt Lake
SANDY, Utah (Sat., July 6, 2024) – Real Salt Lake (12-3-7 / 43 points / T-1st West) came out red-hot in front of a fifth consecutive sold-out crowd at America First Field (20,396, and its seventh in 11 home matches this season. RSL needed only 43 seconds to claim the advantage over Atlanta, as MF Matt Crooks’ early score with assists from Diego Luna and Braian Ojeda claimed the title of fifth-fastest goal in Club history. Following a lackluster first half, the final 45 minutes would be dominant for RSL, matching its season high with another five-goal performance, improving to 8-2-1 / 25 points at home this season.
The clear “Man of the Match” for RSL tonight was 20-year-old playmaker Diego Luna, finishing with a goal and three assists. The “hat trick” of assists marks just the fourth time in the Club’s 636-game MLS history that an RSL player has set up three goals (Espindola, 2012; Ruiz, 2023; Luna, 3/3/24 & tonight). The four total goal contributions for Luna are the most in any match in his professional career, matching the most of any RSL player in a game this season (Arango). Alongside Luna on the scoresheet was MLS MVP and Golden Boot frontrunner, RSL Captain Chicho Arango, the Colombian frontman bagging his 17th goal of the campaign. Arango’s 17 goals are the most in MLS, while Luna’s 12 assists rank third-most in the league entering Sunday’s action.
Also contributing was midfielder Braian Ojeda, his 59th minute goal his second in as many games, previously playing 66 consecutive RSL appearances without a goal, scoring in the last two. In addition to Ojeda, DF Alex Katranis also came forward from his natural position to get on the scoresheet, the former Greek youth international scoring for the third time in his inaugural stateside season.
The win was a comprehensive example in ball control for Manager Pablo Mastroeni’s side, his team dominating 62% of possession and outpassing Atlanta 650-383. RSL’s three points keeps it even with LAFC at 43 points atop the Western Conference table, now staring down a three-match road trip to Portland Timbers, LAFC and Colorado Rapids July 13, 17 and 20, heading into the MLS All-Star break and then the Leagues Cup kickoff.
RSL – 1’ – Matt Crooks (Diego Luna, Braian Ojeda): As RSL took possession to open the match, calmly passing throughout the midfield for players’ first touches of the evening, Braian Ojeda took control in the midfield. Seeing green grass ahead, Ojeda launched himself forward, pulling off a devastating dribble to cut between the only two oncoming defenders. Now drawing the attention of the entire ATL defense, he laid it off to Diego Luna charging into the right side of the box. Without taking a touch, Luna whipped it back across the face of goal with pace for the incoming run of Matt Crooks, his English teammate able to tap in the point-blank scoring chance.
ATL – 31’ – Saba Lobjanidze (Daniel Ríos, Bartosz Slisz): Despite Real dominating possession and more than doubling Atlanta in completed passes, the Five Stripes equalized in the 31st minute of play. Controlling possession deep in Claret-and-Cobalt territory, the ball found its way to the feet of Bartosz Slisz on the edge of the box. With his teammate flashing to the ball, Slisz fired a quick pass to the center of the box for Saba Lobjanidze with a defender at his back. Lobjanidze played a flashy back-heel give-and-go with Daniel Ríos, popping out on the other side with just enough space to get off the shot – his right-footed attempt bending around the outstretched glove of Gavin Beavers and inside the near post.
RSL – 59’ – Braian Ojeda (Unassisted): Coming out for the second 45 with refreshed legs, it wouldn’t take long for Real Salt Lake to re-establish control of the game. As Alex Katranis stood alongside the flag, preparing to take a 59th minute corner kick, his teammates flooded the box. Katranis floated a high, arcing ball to the center of the box when Captain Chicho Arango rose up and headed it at goal. As Arango’s attempt deflected by an ATL defender up into the air, Braian Ojeda, with his back to the goal, flipped his hips and sent it into the side netting with a spinning shot. After having not scored in his first 66 RSL appearances, Ojeda has now gotten on the scoresheet in consecutive matches.
RSL – 68’ – Chicho Arango (Diego Luna): Keeping the feet on the gas, Pablo Mastroeni’s side took a commanding two-goal lead in the 68th minute. With Diego Luna standing over a free kick opportunity on the edge of the attacking third, his teammates flooded the box in a coordinated rush. As Luna’s cross zipped over the main crowd and towards the back post, Arango outpaced his only marker on the outside to get on the end of it, sending a thundering downward header back against the ‘keeper’s momentum and into the far post side netting.
RSL – 78’ – Alex Katranis (Diego Luna): Pouring it on in front of the home fans, Real pushed the lead to three goals in the 78th minute. Another corner kick, this time from the left side, began as Luna stood over the ball with menacing intentions. Faking as if he was sending in a traditional cross, Luna unleashed a worm burner to Alex Katranis on the near side. Shuffling his feet as the ball approached, Katranis caught it pure on his left boot with a first-time shot, his attempt curling up and over the glove of Brad Guzan as it sailed into the back of the net.
ATL – 80’ – Daniel Ríos (Brooks Lennon): Against the run of play, Atlanta immediately stole one back in the 80th minute. With Atlanta pressing far up the pitch in desperation, a long cross made its way from the left side through the box untouched, resettling at the feet of Brooks Lennon on the other side. Holding play for the run of his teammate, Lennon whipped in an accurate ball to the head of Daniel Ríos in the box, Ríos able to connect and send it into the back of the net.
RSL – 84’ – Diego Luna (Maikel Chang): Capping off an unreal flurry of offensive action, RSL scored yet again in the 84th. As Atlanta attempted to break out from its own end, an errant pass was intercepted by Maikel Chang and immediately converted into a counter attack. Running directly at the defenders, Chang reached the edge of the box when he sent a line drive pass to the chest of Luna in the box. Controlling it with a masterful first touch to set up the shot, Luna pounded a half-volley back into the ground that bounced perfectly into the corner.
NOTES FROM RSL 5 : 2 ATLANTA UNITED
- Chicho’s goal tonight represents his 17th this year, tying the franchise single-season record of 17 goals, set by Alvaro Saborio over a decade ago in 2012. RSL’s captain now needs just one more to break and claim sole possession of the all-time single-season RSL scoring mark.
- Matt Crooks’ goal 43 seconds into the match now stands as the fourth-fastest goal scored in RSL Club history.
- 19-year-old Gavin Beavers gets the win in goal, bringing his season record to 4-1-1 (+9 Goal Differential) when between the posts.
- Captain Chicho Arango extends his MLS Golden Boot lead to three goals with his 17th of the campaign, ahead of both Christian Benteke (DCU) and Denis Bouanga (LAFC), with 14 goals each.
- Diego Luna’s three assists now represent his second triple-assist game of the year, and only the fourth time a player has recorded up to three assists in a game in RSL’s 636-game MLS history (Fabian Espindola and Pablo Ruiz in 2012 and 2023); Luna’s 12 assists this season now ranks him third in all of Major League Soccer.
- RSL improves to 8-2-1 / 25 points at home in 2024. With one more win, RSL would equal its home point total from 2023 (6-7-4 / 22 points), with six home League games remaining, all coming in the final nine MLS matches after Leagues Cup, resuming Aug. 24
- MF Braian Ojeda earns a goal for the second time in as many matches, and the second MLS/RSL goal in his 68th game across all competitions since first joining the Claret-and-Cobalt in Sept. 2022.
Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Gavin Beavers; Brayan Vera (Bryan Oviedo, 67’); Bode Hidalgo; Philip Quinton (Andrew Brody, 46’); Alex Katranis; Emeka Eneli (Nelson Palacio, 46’); Braian Ojeda; Andrés Gómez (Maikel Chang, 79’); Diego Luna; Matt Crooks (Anderson Julio, 67’); Chicho Arango ©
Subs not used: Zac MacMath, Tommy Silva, Zavier Gozo, Noel Caliskan
Atlanta United (4-2-3-1): Brad Guzan ©; Ronald Hernández (Matthew Edwards, 89’); Derrick Williams; Brooks Lennon; Noah Cobb; Caleb Wiley; Bartosz Slisz (Luke Brennan, 90’); Saba Lobjanidze (Jay Fortune, 69’); Dax McCarty (Tristan Muyumba, 60’); Xande Silva (Tyler Wolff, 60’); Daniel Ríos
Subs not used: Luis Abram, Efrain Morales, Josh Cohen, Nicolas Firmino
RSL: Diego Luna (Caution, 57’)
ATL: Derrick Williams (Caution, 67’)
ATL: Jay Fortune (Caution, 89’)
Omari James. Photos provided by Atlanta police
ATLANTA – Atlanta police are asking for the public’s help locating 11-year-old Omari James, who has been classified as critically missing.
What we know:
Investigators said Omari ran away from his home around 9:30 p.m. Thursday after getting into an argument with his parents over his cell phone.
Police said Omari was last seen wearing a black shirt, red, white and blue shorts, black Nike slides and a Nike ski hat.
What you can do:
Anyone who has seen Omari or knows where he may be is asked to call 911 or contact the Atlanta Police Department’s Special Victims Unit. The investigation remains ongoing.
Atlanta, GA
Georgia Secretary of State opens investigation into voter registration mailers sent to deceased residents
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced Thursday that his office has opened an investigation into Ready to Register and other third-party organizations after reports that voter registration mailers were sent to deceased Georgians and other ineligible recipients.
According to the Secretary of State’s Office, election officials have received numerous complaints about voter registration solicitations being mailed to people who have died. In one unusual case cited by the office, a deceased family dog reportedly received one of the mailers.
State officials said they are reviewing whether the mailings violate Georgia law or otherwise undermine confidence in the state’s election system.
The Secretary of State’s Office said third-party voter registration groups frequently conduct mass mail campaigns ahead of major elections but often rely on commercial databases that can contain outdated or inaccurate information, unlike Georgia’s official voter registration system.
“Groups like this highlight the unreliability of commercial data,” Raffensperger said in a statement. “Georgia maintains one of the cleanest voter rolls in the nation through continuous list maintenance and citizenship verification. These outside organizations don’t use those standards. Instead, they flood mailboxes with inaccurate solicitations that confuse voters and waste election officials’ time.”
Raffensperger also thanked voters who alerted his office to the mailings.
“I want to thank the voters who have flagged the inaccurate mailings and sent them to our office,” he said. “Whether checking their ballots for accuracy or keeping their own registration information up to date, voters are a crucial line of defense in election security.”
Georgia officials said the issue mirrors problems recently identified in North Carolina, where election officials warned residents about similar mailings from Ready to Register. According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s Office, North Carolina officials said the organization mailed registration forms to deceased individuals, used outdated forms, listed incorrect election office addresses and included QR codes that raised privacy concerns.
Raffensperger criticized the mass mailing campaigns, saying they create confusion while increasing the workload for local election offices.
“Whether intentional or simply reckless, these mail campaigns operate like a grift — raising money and generating activity while shifting the costs onto taxpayers, election officials, and voters,” Raffensperger said. “Georgia taxpayers should not have to clean up the mess created by organizations that prioritize volume over accuracy.”
The Secretary of State’s Office is encouraging Georgians to verify their voter registration through the state’s My Voter Page and says voters who are already registered at their current address should disregard unsolicited voter registration mailers.
Project aims to curb dengue by releasing millions of mosquitoes
Google-backed researchers are taking an unusual approach to fighting mosquito-borne diseases: releasing more mosquitoes. The effort, known as Debug, is designed to reduce populations of mosquitoes that spread illnesses such as dengue fever by using specially bred male mosquitoes that cannot produce viable offspring.
Fox – 35 Orlando
Mosquitoes in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta have tested positive for West Nile Virus, according to Fulton County health officials.
Fulton County Board of Health Environmental Health mosquito control staff say the mosquitoes were tested following trapping in Fulton County.
“Mosquitoes can be dangerous if infected and may pose a serious health risk to people in our area,” Environmental Health Director at the Fulton County Board of Health, Brandon Leftwich, said in a statement from the agency. “We want to make sure communities are aware and take necessary precautions to protect themselves.”
Grant Park is in southeast Atlanta, south of Old Fourth Ward and west of East Atlanta.
Here’s what to know.
What is West Nile Virus?
West Nile Virus is the illness caused by infections from a pathogen in the Flaviviridae family. Mosquitoes are hosts for the pathogen, meaning they can spread it to people and other animals without dying.
It is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the contiguous United States, infecting more than 2,000 people each year. About 1,300 people develop a severe illness, and more than 130 people die annually in the U.S. from the infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It spreads during mosquito season, or the period between June and October each year. Infections typically peak in late August and early September.
Many people infected may never show symptoms, and others will only experience mild, flu-like symptoms. It can take between 2 and 6 days after a mosquito bite to feel poorly, and then people may experience headaches, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash. Those with mild illness can recover completely, but some fatigue and weakness can last much longer, even weeks or months.
In cases of severe illness, West Nile Virus attacks their central nervous system and can result in hospitalization or death. Patients may experience a very high fever, headaches, neck pain, stupor, disorientation, muscle weakness and other serious symptoms. Recovery can take weeks or months, and some effects could become permanent.
How is West Nile Virus treated?
There is no medicine that can treat West Nile Virus, so those with mild symptoms can take over-the-counter medication like acetaminophen to manage pain, fever or headaches. Those with West Nile Virus should not take ibuprofen or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, according to the CDC. Patients should stay hydrated and take lots of rest to let your body fight the virus and recover.
Those with severe illness may need intravenous fluids, pain medication and nursing care at the hospital level, though there is still no medication that can be taken to cure the infection.
It is believed that those who have been infected by West Nile Virus develop a lifelong immunity or protection, meaning they can’t get the virus again, according to the CDC.
How to prevent mosquito bites
Fulton County health officials recommend following the “5Ds of mosquito bite prevention” to keep yourself safe from mosquito-borne illnesses.
- Dusk/Dawn: Avoid being outside during periods when mosquitoes are most active, including in the early morning and as the sun is setting.
- Dress: Loose-fitting clothes and items with long sleeves or pants will reduce the amount of exposed skin for a mosquito bite and make it difficult for a mosquito to bite through clothes.
- DEET: Insect repellant should contain DEET. It is the most effective ingredient in mosquito repellant.
- Drain: Standing water is a great place for mosquitoes to breed, so make sure to dump out water from buckets, barrels, flowerpots and tarps outside that could harbor mosquito larvae. You should also cut overgrown grass or weeds.
- Doors: While it might be nice for a breeze to pass through your house in the evenings, make sure doors and windows are closed and sealed to keep mosquitoes out of the house.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
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