(Monday, April 29, 2024) – Real Salt Lake again places at least one player - DF Alex Katranis, for the second consecutive week – to be selected to Major League Soccer’s “Team of the Matchday” for Matchday 11 of the 2024 season, following his 27-yard stunner in the 89th minute of RSL’s similarly shocking 2-1 road win at Philadelphia on Saturday.
Katranis’ 89th-minute ZAPATAZO was the sixth-latest game-winning goal on the road during the 110-game Pablo Mastroeni era, and the former Greek youth international’s second game-winner on the road this year, as he provided the difference-maker in RSL’s March 23 2-1 win at Vancouver. Since Mastroeni became RSL’s head coach in late August, 2021, the list of game-winning goals at the death:
AWAY:
95’ - Damir Kreilach (2021 @ KC)
93’ – Tate Schmitt (2022 @ NE)
91’ – Bobby Wood (2021 playoffs @ KC)
91’ – Anderson Julio (2023 @ Toronto)
90’ – Albert Rusnak (2021 @ Dallas)
89’ – Alex Katranis (2024 @ PHI)
HOME:
95’ – Anderson Julio (2021 v Galaxy)
88’ – Andrew Brody (2022 v Austin)
RSL now boasts a 3-1-2 record away from home this year, winning on the road in Vancouver on March 23 and at Chicago on April 20, prior to this weekend’s win in Philadelphia. Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s road warriors scored first before settling for draws at St. Louis on Feb. 24 and at Minnesota on April 6, following the lone road shutout and loss in the season-opener at Miami on Feb. 21. A year ago, Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni’s team amassed 12 road wins and five away draws across all competitions, against just eight losses, by far the most successful road campaign in Club history.
This Saturday’s home tilt against Kansas City provides a brief respite during a slate that sees RSL play nine of its 13 matches away from home from April 20 to June 19. A very busy May awaits, as six MLS matches – two midweek – could include as many as two possible 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup road games on May 8 at New Mexico (and May 22 away with advancement), prior to a two-game road trip May 25-29 at Dallas and Seattle.
Last week, RSL saw both Katranis and Captain Chicho Arango honored for their Matchday 10 performances. Previously this season, RSL has also seen both Andrés Gómez and teenage attacker Fidel Barajas honored in the League’s weekly selection; Gómez following his two-goal, one-assist March 2 home performance in a 3-0 win against LAFC, and Barajas for his March 23 efforts at Vancouver, assisting on both goals in a 2-1 comeback win.
The Captain Arango assisted Gómez in the opener Saturday at Philadelphia, the fourth time RSL has scored first in six road matches in 2024. The Colombian Captain Arango and oft-mentioned early-season MLS MVP candidate has now amassed 15 goal contributions this season. Arango’s career totals include 107 goals as a professional, including 51 goals in 85 games across all competitions since arriving in MLS for LAFC and RSL. Since appearing on the Wasatch Front last July, Chicho boasts 16 goals and nine assists in 28 MLS appearances for the Claret-and-Cobalt, with those numbers increasing to 18 goals and 11 assists in 33 RSL games across all competitions (incl. Leagues Cup, Open Cup, Playoffs).
