Has Real Salt Lake finally turned a corner?
After a wildly up-and-down season so far in 2015, things appeared to have come to a crossroads in the wake of RSL’s 3-1 defeat at Colorado on July 11. The players held a meeting shortly after that match, and although they have declined to discuss the details of that meeting, whatever was said seems to be working so far.
With a US Open Cup quarterfinal match against the surging LA Galaxy on the docket for Tuesday night, things had to turn around quickly. Although both teams were missing players due to the Gold Cup, there was still plenty of talent on the pitch — Real managed to keep Robbie Keane at bay, and even the much-hyped debut of LA’s Steven Gerrard didn’t seem to intimidate RSL. It took until the 87th minute for the match to be decided.
The goal would come from the most unlikely of scorers in Aaron Maund. The central defender, who has quietly been putting together a string of excellent performances alongside a constantly-changing cast of characters, caught the end of Luke Mulholland’s lofted ball and headed home the game-winner. It was Maund’s first professional goal, and it came at a perfect time for his team, as the Open Cup increasingly seems to be RSL’s best chance for any silverware this season.
The win put Real in a good position ahead of Saturday’s match against the Houston Dynamo, and it showed on the pitch. The players seemed happier, less terrified of making mistakes, and getting back to the things that they do well.
Case in point: Joao Plata. Although he had been back in the starting lineup for a while, he still hadn’t scored a goal — he was usually left out on the flanks without getting much good service. Against Houston, he was able to get into the 18-yard box, where he’s most effective, much more frequently. Whether it was a deliberate tactical decision by the coaches or something that developed from the run of play, it worked — Plata finally got that first goal from a well-played combination with Javier Morales and a sweeping run through the penalty area.
Speaking of Morales, he was back in his “maestro” role against the Dynamo. Despite Houston’s organization, particularly in the first half, he was able to move the ball around well and supply his teammates with good opportunities. His outside-of-the-foot half-volley in the first half was one of the best goals Real has scored recently, and it was well-deserved.
Jordan Allen started alongside Morales and Mulholland in midfield, and they looked like an effective trio, albeit against a side currently sitting below RSL in the Western Conference standings. Allen showed some good instincts in trying to take the ball and make runs forward — although they didn’t always work out, they showed the kind of leadership qualities that the team needs going forward.
However, Real has a huge test ahead of them on Friday night. They’ll take on Sporting Kansas City — a side that’s quickly been climbing up in the standings, as well as a team with a history of bad blood with RSL. Although there will be fireworks after the match for the Pioneer Day holiday, the home fans will be hoping for some pyrotechnics for their team on the pitch as well.
It will be a stern test for RSL — we may get an answer to whether or not that corner has truly been turned for good.
