Player Spotlight: Audacious Ando Steals the Show

What Happened? A Wondergoal at the 801

Real Salt Lake began the banishment of the painful memories of its 4-1 loss to Houston, and the first step towards its path to absolution, with a hard-fought, well-deserved 3-2 victory against FC Dallas at America First Field on Wednesday night.

In a result which, in truth, never really looked in doubt after the hosts’ second goal, Colombian Brayan Vera scored the team’s opener from the penalty spot, on his return from injury. And striker Anderson Julio netted the pick of the bunch on the night with an outrageous, ferocious 57-yard chip from near the center circle as Pablo Mastroeni’s men delivered an ideal response to last weekend’s debacle on the Gulf Coast.

The victory marks a return to winning ways for the team and elevates RSL back to second in the West standings ahead of a final slew of regular season games before the commencement of playoffs.

Man of the Match: Anderson the Audacious

Anderson Andrés Julio. The man of the moment.

The chosen one. Nigh the only one. Man on fire.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines "audacious" simply as - "showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks." It should, instead, include a description of Julio’s first goal of the night. Indeed, if ever there was a more fitting and perfect description of sheer mastery and effrontery all wrapped up in one singular action, it would be this.

Confident, pristine, assured - you certainly have to be to attempt such a strike. A wonder strike in all of its glory. A goal from the heavens.

RSL’s Duke in the West was at his mesmerizing best on Wednesday night, heralding the age of the new Claret-and-Cobalt in the absence of captain Chicho Arango, with a direct hand in all three of the hosts’ goals in the contest, including a truly magnificent goal of the season contender midway through the first half.

As the game got off to a bright start in front of a near 20,000-strong attendance at America First Field, Julio wasted little time in making his mark, with his first direct goal involvement coming as early as the 11th minute, less than a quarter of an hour into the contest.

A quick exchange between Matt Crooks and Braian Ojeda allowed the former ample time and space to thread a pass through to the Ecuadorean striker who took a first touch to knock the ball forward into the penalty area before then managing to get his body between the ball and an onrushing defender and getting bundled in the area to win a penalty for RSL early on.

It represented an ingenuine piece of skill and determination from Julio to win the penalty in the manner in which he did, and then exemplary grace and leadership in allowing his teammate Vera an opportunity to get on the scoresheet in the latter’s return, and first start, from an injury layoff. But the best was still yet to come, and the celestials which collectively had already fatedly decided the contest in favor of the Claret-and-Cobalt would align once again, at least a second, time in piercing exaltation of RSL’s Ecuadorean maverick.

It wouldn’t take long either. Barely 15 minutes later, Julio’s crowning moment arrived, his moment of destiny, and in the most divine of fashions. In the 23rd minute, a long pass from Gavin Beavers was first chested forward by the 28-year-old who then took a step infield, cutting inside of his opposing defender, before unleashing an outrageous, audacious chip from near the halfway line which sailed over the full upward stretch of Paes before nestling kindly into the back of the net, and America First Field bellowed.

Such skill, such brass, such impudence. Such sheer audacity to take on a strike from so far out much less make it. It was a truly divine strike befitting of as much glory and exaltation as any can muster.

America First Field roared in response to its champion on the night. A master with the ball at his feet, but if anyone thought the celestials might have been done with Julio then, they’d have been sorely mistaken.

It took nearly 40 minutes later, but RSL’s number 29 finally got his deserved second, and just before getting substituted to rapturous applause and ovation from the Riot, through a beautifully worked attack. A forward pass from Phillip Quinton was allowed to run across his body and forward by winger Dominik Marczuk who dribbled down the length of the opposing right flank before delivering a low cross into the box and across the face of goal for an onrushing Julio who in turn met his teammate’s pass in the middle with a first-time finish into the bottom left corner for RSL’s third of a captivating contest.

It represented an inspired performance from one of the Claret-and-Cobalts’ most effervescent performers this season, and certainly one of the League’s most in-form strikers.

His brace on the night represented his second two-goal performance of the season, following his first in the 5-1 rout of Austin on June 6, and his third goal against RSL’s Central Plain opponents was his third against them this year, with his first coming in the 3-3 draw on May 25.

Throughout his years at RSL, Julio has now scored 12 goals as a starter and 14 as a substitute. Perhaps even more impressively, 16 of his 26 career RSL goals have all come in the second half, with 9 of the 16 coming after the 80th minute. Anderson Julio, the man for the big occasion.

Vera Scores on Return, Marczuk Bags First Assist

Colombian center-back Brayan Vera also proved a bright spot for RSL on the night with a resolute, determined performance both at the back and in attack, even managing to get on the scoresheet, as the Claret-and-Cobalt held out for an eventual narrow, but deserving win.

On his return from injury, RSL’s imperial defender opened the scoring for the hosts, setting the foundation for the team to go on and claim an all-important win. With Julio having won a penalty less that 15 minutes into the start, Vera, perhaps surprisingly, stepped up as the team’s set piece taker from the spot and delivered a confident, assured finish, burying a fierce, low strike down the middle and into the back of the net to establish a home side lead on the Wasatch Front.

The 25-year-old also proved more than dependable in defense, alongside usual center-back partner Justen Glad, and on another day could both well have earned a clean sheet for their efforts.

Throughout his 90 minutes played, Vera made a total of 40 passes, the third most of any RSL player on the pitch, behind only Ojeda (48) and Emeka Eneli (46), at an accuracy rate of 85 percent, to go with his one shot on target, and goal. Defensively, RSL’s number four also made a total of five clearances, the second most in the teams defensive line behind only Glad (8), two tackles and interceptions,and two defensive blocks. A thoroughly comprehensive, all-round performance. A perfect return.

New signing Dominik Marczuk (pronounced mar - CHOOK) also got to celebrate both his first start and first assist for the Club on the night.

RSL’s new number 11 started on the right side of the team’s front three and equally put in an exciting, encouraging performance most evidenced by his game-winning assist in the 64th minute.

Receiving a pass from Quinton, the 20-year-old intelligently allowed the ball run across his body to beat the impending pressure from an onrushing defender before displaying his searing pace, dribbling down the opposing right flank and evoking memories of his number predecessor Andrés Gómez, and delivering a low cross across the face of goal towards Julio for a tap in into the bottom corner.

Throughout his 77 minutes on the ptch Marczuk made a atotal of 20 successful passes, at an accuracy rate of 87 percent, including two key passes to go with his assist.

Did You Know?

At 19 years and 142 days, RSL homegrown goalkeeper Gavin Beavers, on Wednesday night, became the youngest goalkeeper in MLS history to record an assist with his long pass to Anderson Julio for the striker’s 57-yeard wondergoal in the first half.

New signing Dominik Mazrcuk also became the 26th different player to start for RSL in a competitive game this season.

The Bigger Picture/What Comes Next?

The win elevates RSL to second place in the Western Conference standings with 50 points from 29 games, and five points behind the LA Galaxy in first.

Next up for RSL is a home date against Portland Timbers on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. Kickoff for this game is at 7:30 p.m. MT. Tickets to all home RSL matches are available for purchase at www.RSL.com/tickets