Martinez is RSL’s newest Designated Player
Real Salt Lake has had a busy 24 hours.
Despite the team’s US Open Cup bid ending in Kansas City last night, the club announced the long-awaited signing of Juan Manuel “El Burrito” Martinez on Thursday.
The signing of Martinez has been rumored for weeks, as various reports had RSL in negotiations with the former Argentine international during the transfer window. However, as the 29-year-old striker was out of the contract, the deal could be completed after the window closed.
The ex-Boca Juniors man, who found himself surplus after Carlos Tevez’s return to Argentina, will join RSL pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate. Real used the newly-implemented Targeted Allocation Money to lower Kyle Beckerman’s budget charge, allowing the team to add Martinez as a Designated Player.
However, the announcement was small consolation for fans in the wake of the team’s defeat in the semifinals of the US Open Cup to rival Sporting Kansas City. SKC got a hard-won 3-1 victory over RSL at Sporting Park, which ended not only Real’s Cup run, but perhaps its only opportunity for a trophy this season.
Olmes Garcia scored RSL’s only goal of the match in the first half, in which both teams had long spells of possession and scoring chances. However, in the second half, Real’s makeshift defense fell apart, and Sporting was able to score twice in the final 10 minutes of the match in order to secure the victory.
The Open Cup loss came at the end of RSL’s 11,000-mile, three-competition, four-city, four-time zone road swing that stretched from Guatemala to Canada, as the team dealt with MLS play, the Open Cup, and the start of CONCACAF Champions League play.
Injuries have continued to plague RSL, as Joao Plata was left at home after injuring his hamstring in training on Monday. Would-be starters Chris Schuler and Jamison Olave are still rehabbing, and Jordan Allen remains doubtful with a hamstring injury as well.
Real finally returns to Rio Tinto Stadium for a meeting with the Portland Timbers on Saturday night, as the team will try to get back on track in hopes of getting back into playoff contention. A win over the Timbers would be a massive boost, particularly in the wake of the Open Cup defeat and last weekend’s 4-0 drubbing at the hands of the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps.
