Real Salt Lake’s 1-0 loss at Colorado on Saturday wasn’t a dream result, but it did make a dream come true for RSL forward Justin Braun.
The 25-year-old Salt Lake City native made his Real Salt Lake debut on Saturday, starting the match alongside forward Álvaro Saborío and playing 63 minutes in RSL’s loss to the Rapids. Playing for the Claret-and-Cobalt was a longtime aspiration for Braun, who grew up attending RSL matches at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
“It was a dream come true,” Braun said of his debut. “It’s something I’ve been kind of dreaming about since five years ago up in the stands. I’ve been watching them play, so to be able to put on that jersey was an honor and I’m looking forward to being able to do that more often.”
RSL acquired Braun in a trade with Montreal on July 11. The striker had made the bench for every match since joining the club, but didn’t feature until Saturday.
He was very active against the Rapids, playing decently and registering RSL’s best chance of the game in the 15th minute. Braun got on the end of midfielder Jonny Steele’s cross at the top left corner of the six-yard-box, forcing Colorado goalie Matt Pickens into a fine save with a strong header.
“As soon as I saw Jonny out there I knew it was going to be a good ball,” Braun said. “I saw it up in the air and I was thinking goal before I even connected with it. I knew I was open, I knew it was coming right to my head, but obviously it was a good save on his part and unfortunate not to go in.”
Overall, Braun thought his performance on Saturday was just okay. The former Chivas USA and Montreal striker recognizes that he’s still learning RSL’s system and his teammates tendencies and thinks he’ll get better with a little more time with the squad.
“It was okay. There was a lot that could have been better out there,” Braun said. “Obviously it’s a new team and it’s my first time playing with the group, so I’m still learning kind of the way that some of the guys play and their tendencies and trying to play off them. But overall I think I’m okay with it. I’m not happy but I’m just going to keep moving forward.”
