Real Salt Lake forward Chicho Arango was named to MLSsoccer.com’s Major League Soccer Team of the Matchday’s starting XI for Matchday 7. This is the Colombian’s second time being named to the TOTM starting XI while with RSL, the first coming in October of last year following an exquisite performance against his former team, LAFC.
Arango wrote himself into the RSL record books once again on Saturday night, becoming just the sixth Claret-and-Cobalt player (Jason Kreis, Robbie Findley, Alvaro Saborio, Javier Morales, Damir Kreilach) to score a hat trick in the Club’s history.
Down 1-0 to St. Louis CITY at halftime, Arango erupted the Riot in the 70’ with an astounding equalizer, scoring RSL’s first penalty attempt since 2022 in the 84’ and capping off the night in the 91’ thanks to a selfless pass from MLS assist leader Diego Luna.
It was a spectacular night at America First Field for RSL’s Captain, who jumped to second place in the MLS Golden Boot rankings (five goals) and is in contention for this week’s MLS Player of the Matchday award.
“I'm just so happy for him to have the game that he had because that represents the rest of the group,” Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni said postgame. “When he plays like he did tonight and how he has been playing, I think we're on the cusp of being a really tough team to play against."
Arango is Real Salt Lake’s second player in consecutive weeks named to MLS Team of the Matchday starting XI. Seventeen-year-old Fidel Barajas was named to his first TOTM starting XI last week, and was in line to start against St. Louis before picking up a knee knock in training midweek.
Next up, RSL will travel to the land of 10,000 Lakes to face off against Minnesota United this weekend before returning home on April 13.
You won’t want to miss out on Arango and Co when RSL returns to America First Field to face the Columbus Crew. Tickets are still available:
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Below is MLSsoccer.com’s full Team of the Matchday for Matchday 6 organized in a 3-4-3 formation.
F: Cristian Arango (RSL), Jamal Thiaré (ATL)
M: Gabriel Pec (LA), Djordje Mihailovic (COL), Mateusz Klich (DC), Fafà Picault (VAN)
D: Franco Escobar (HOU), Jack Elliott (PHI), Julio Cascante (ATX), Jake Davis (SKC)
GK: Matt Freese (NYC)
Coach: Peter Vermes (SKC)
Bench: William Yarbrough (SJ), DeAndre Yedlin (CIN), Artur (HOU), Rémi Walter (SKC), Ryan Gauld (VAN), Evander (POR), Marino Hinestroza (CLB), Jacob Shaffelburg (NSH), Lewis Morgan (RBNY)
