Real Salt Lake’s win over the Seattle Sounders was unequivocally one of the best performances RSL has put together in a very long time.
After a season that’s largely gone like the crowds at Banksy’s Dismaland exhibition — people lining up for the excitement of a ticket but getting a heavy-handed dose of ‘real life’ instead — it was a legitimately good night at the Riot.
Still, there’s a lingering sense of what could have been about RSL’s performance against Seattle.
Real came out in the first half looking like a team desperate to prove a point — pressing, winning second and third balls, and attacking with urgency.
There were a number of individual performances to note: Luis Silva’s sense of positioning and clearing runs; Kyle Beckerman making key tackles and looking for shots, appearing more like the 2009-10 version than the exhausted 2015 player; Tony Beltran, Jamison Olave, and so on. Real looked like a cohesive team rather than distinctive lines of defenders, midfielders, and forwards struggling to move into the right places.
Most importantly, RSL managed to get two early goals yet prevent the opposition from getting back into the match — something that’s been difficult for this side to pull off all season.
That was about motivation. Desire to be at one’s best for 90 minutes. Mental strength. Basically, all of the qualities that have been lacking in Real’s play this season.
Was it the sudden realization that the team was about to be bounced out of playoff contention that produced such a performance? The criticism ringing loudly around Salt Lake about owner Dell Loy Hansen and the team’s future, as personified by a local sports columnist this week?
Whatever it was, it may have come too late, unfortunately. With San Jose winning at DC this weekend, Houston managing a point to stay just ahead of RSL in the standings, and some very difficult road matches ahead (including two key Western Conference fixtures at Dallas and Houston in the immediate future), even having a crack at a playoff spot come October is hardly guaranteed.
If Real can keep up this kind of intensity — both mentally and physically — the team could squeak into the playoffs. There’s no lack of talent on the pitch, particularly with Olave and Joao Plata back in the mix.
Otherwise, the players, coaches, and fans will be left to rue what might have been, now that everyone’s seen just what RSL is capable of.
