Real Salt Lake 1 vs Inter Milan 2
July 19, 2016; Sandy, Utah; Rio Tinto Stadium
International Friendly
Man of the Match: On a fast paced evening, Jordan Allen separated himself from the rest of his teammates, and Inter. While only playing the first 30 minutes prior to Head Coach Jeff Cassar making changes, Allen was able to notch himself RSL’s lone goal and create chances in the final third while operating from the center of the field.
Telling Storyline: Both RSL and Inter Milan brought almost entire rosters onto the bench, giving each side a chance to experience the depth of their respective teams. This was a chance for RSL to rest several first team regulars and for Inter, being in the infancy of a long preseason, they are preparing for another successful season in Serie A. In the 30th minute Cassar made the first six of many substitutions bringing in a mix of first team subs, as well as players from Real Monarchs, including former RSL man Chris Schuler. This happened three times throughout the game as nearly everybody on RSL’s bench saw the playing field. Whilst making numerous changes, RSL stayed organized making Inter struggle to create and execute chances in the final third and were very solid defensively for the full 90 minutes.
What you missed: This game was RSL’s first ever game against a European opponent at Rio Tinto Stadium. Rio Tinto first hosted EPL side Everton in the 2009 MLS All-Star game. Being the first game against a European side opens doors to showcase the sport in the state of Utah in what is a very exciting time for Real Salt Lake and Major League Soccer.
So What: RSL showed that they can compete with large clubs, giving Inter a run for the money in what turned out to be a gritty affair. A friendly game gives the staff a chance to evaluate younger players against some of the best players in the world and Cassar did just that. Next up RSL returns to league play on Friday July 22, as they play host to the San Jose Earthquakes. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. at Rio Tinto Stadium.
