Welcome back to storylines.
In another quick turnaround week, RSL are back in action almost immediately again on Wednesday, back in Sandy, for the home visit of FC Dallas to America First Field in an MLS midweek fixture. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. MT.
Pablo Mastroeni’s charges head into their second game in five days, and second of another three-game/eight-day gauntlet, on the back of a frustrating result last time out in a 4-1 defeat away to the Houston Dynamo at Shell Energy Stadium.
Saturday’s outcome was a difficult one to bear, a disappointing loss leaving a sour taste in all of our mouths. Wednesday, thus, presents an immediate opportunity to begin to set things right again.
Truth, however, and admittedly, is that words alone fail to suffice, and understandably so. Indeed, sheer expositions and storyline narratives of unity and mentality fall terrifyingly bereft of the standards and expectations. Far beyond a mere collective call to action of rebounding and reuniting, change requires action, not mere words, and trust, consequently, requires consistency in those actions which, in footballing terms, create a reliable pattern that supporters can fall back and depend on.
As Pablo himself stressed again after the 2-0 victory against New England,
“... words are cheap, but it’s the actions behind the words that make it real or not.”
In this latest iteration of storylines, therefore, abiding by the words and tenets of our head coach, we first take a look at some of the biggest lessons learned in the aftermath of Saturday night’s frustrations on the Gulf Coast, as well as some compelling narratives and information ahead of Wednesday’s showdown with yet another Texan opponent.
Storylines
- Greater Execution: RSL’s head coach spoke at length about the team's execution and endeavors both in and out of possession being culpable in the defeat to Houston. This, hence, represents a major point of resolution ahead of Saturday’s parley against Dallas.
- Luna and Julio Headliners, and a potential first for Gonçalves? Forwards Diego Luna and Anderson Julio will be expected to lead the attack in the absence of Club captain Chicho Arango, with new signing Diogo Gonçalves also looking to net his first goal for the Club.
Where to Watch
You can catch RSL vs Dallas on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass right here https://tv.apple.com/
or take in the euphoric America First Field experience by getting your tickets today here https://rsl.com/tickets
Kick off is at 7:30 p.m. MT on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
The Deep Dive
- Greater Execution: RSL’s head coach spoke at length about the team's execution and endeavors both in and out of possession being culpable in the defeat to Houston. This, hence, represents a major point of resolution ahead of Saturday’s parley against Dallas.
By the end of Saturday night’s game in Houston, RSL had amassed an Expected Goal (xG) total of 1.1 compared to the hosts’ more illustrious figure of 2.2, a certainly more modest difference, and perhaps fairer story of the game, than the final 4-1 scoreline would, on face value, have you believe.
The Dynamo’s eventual four-goal heroics on the night represented a significantly higher output than their Expected Goal measurement accounted for, in comparison to RSL who mostly remained within the spheres and confines of its own xG approximate throughout the contest. And whilst critics would cite that the visitors’ only goal of the match was eventually ruled as an own goal, ample credit - however it comes and in that singular aspect - must still be afforded to the team and Captain Chicho Arango for the manner in which they ultimately created and managed to force the ball over the line, own goal or not.
In the end, however, most would duly concede that it did, in fact, represent a stark overperformance on the part of the hosts that they managed to outscore their xG by so much higher, and admittedly, perhaps, a more telling indictment and arithmetic retelling of RSL’s own struggles and inefficiencies on the night.
“In the first half we gave away too many simple passes to build any kind of momentum with the ball and that affected the way we defended,” Pablo admitted in a press conference following the result. “So our re-press as well wasn’t possible because when you’re expansive but giving away easy balls, no one is [adequately] prepared for that [quick] turnover.”
“... But I think the story of this game was the difference in [both team’s] boxes. I think we defended poorly in our box and weren’t clinical in our opponents’, but they had the opposite. Between the boxes was an even game, but the game was won and lost inside both boxes and tonight I thought we were poor in both.”
Defensive Executions
Much of RSL’s early to mid-season triumphs were established upon the foundation of an organized, frugal defensive unit - being nigh impossible to break down. This also proved part of the springboard upon which the Claret-and-Cobalt laid a four-month siege atop the Western Conference standings from mid-March to mid-July.
However, recent weeks in the aftermath of the team’s tabular fall from grace from the summit of the West table, have seen that narrative take a slight turn, with its once miserly defense now consistently being plagued and punctuated by a series of what would have previously seemed uncharacteristic lapses making for consequent harsh concessions.
The team’s four goals conceded on Saturday represented a total of nine goal concessions given up to its Bayou City antagonists this year alone, in only three games, and the clean sheet earned in its previous game before Saturday, a 2-0 victory over New England, represents the team’s only shutout in 12 games played since its last one against Montreal on June 15th.
It starts from the front. Putting in the work both in and out of possession as a unit from back to front, something Pablo stressed again in the aftermath of Saturday’s result. In the team’s game plan, just as much as players have specific roles and functions to perform in offensive situations, they each also have individual and collective roles in committing defensively, particularly in terms of pressing individually and as a unit, and tracking back during situations that necessitate it. Whilst the deepest lying players in a team in football might traditionally be the most responsible for defensive exertions and keeping the opposition at bay, the more advanced and forward players all equally have parts to play out of possession by effectively carrying out pressing and counter-pressing sequences and instructions, and retreating to safer, deeper zones when necessary to strengthen the collective and support one another in defensive phases.
RSL’s head coach has always preached and emphasized the importance of collectivism within his teams.
“For me, it’s always about mindset. It’s the belief and understanding that if my teammate makes a mistake, I'm gonna try to make up for it. When you have 11 guys working that hard for each other on both sides of the ball, their quality shines through.”
In the spirit of these teachings, for Pablo, addressing the team’s recent defensive malaise will no doubt start from the front, from front to back, as he aims to rectify some of these shortcomings quickly ahead of Wednesday.
The 48-year-old also spoke greatly about his side’s tactical implementations on Saturday. Against New England, players consistently utilized quick, vertical passes from back to front, with defenders sometimes even circumventing teammate routes in midfield with sharp vertical passes bypassing the midfield and straight up to the striker. This direct, assertive approach not only helped the team offensively in generating chances higher upfield, but it also helped mitigate the potential for errors and lapses at the back and in deeper areas, as was evident in the 2-0 win and clean sheet, something it struggled to replicate in the heat and humidity of Houston. Returning to this same level of tactical responsibility and efficiency, with the further advantage of the familiar grounds of America First Field, will surely also be one of the first orders of business for Pablo and his coaching staff in anticipation of Wednesday, and as RSL continue to harbor hopes of progression in the playoffs.
Offensive Executions
In the 55th minute of Saturday’s game at Shell Energy Stadium, and with the score at 2-1, RSL were offered a glorious opportunity at parity. A corner kick taken by Houston was promptly cleared out of the visitors’ defensive third and forward to Diogo Gonçalves who in turn managed to play in Chicho for a breakaway, through on goal and one-on-one with Steve Clark. But under intense pressure from an advancing defender near the edge of the penalty box, and desperate to take his chance before he got caught, RSL’s captain and top goalscorer this season subsequently uncharacteristically dragged his left-footed effort agonizingly wide.
A most rare sight.
Head in his hands, and fallen to his knees, Chicho was distraught, as were fans watching from all over the country. With 17 goals and 11 assists this season, even the most cynical of bookmakers would have banked on RSL’s free-scoring superstar to finish off a gilt-edged chance to draw the visitors’ level within only 10 minutes of the second half.
But alas, it wasn’t to be, and these are the kinds of fine margins that decide games.
“Houston is a difficult place to play… and I think when I look at the moments in this game that we could’ve put our foot on the ball and really made them work a little bit, we didn’t do that enough,” Pablo further admitted.
“... and then again, we’ll lament that missed opportunity that puts us back into the game, and at 2-2, we’d have two goals in the second half and some momentum, which would’ve changed the game. But instead, we conceded the third one and that just took the wind out of our sails.”
RSL’s head coach spoke about the importance of gaining and maintaining momentum in games and taking advantage of crucial moments, both in defense and in attack, when such opportunities duly come around as a prerequisite for gaining such momentum. With the team a goal down at the time in Houston, a second goal could well have swung the tide in RSL’s favor, thus potentially providing a much-needed springboard to go on and claim a crucial victory.
Chicho though continues to represent the jewel in the crown and most singular leading light in the Claret-and-Cobalt glitterati. His records this season alone speak for themselves and the miss on Saturday will surely prove to be just a one-off, and most uncommon, for a man only a single goal away from breaking the Club’s single-season goal-scoring record.
True Claret-and-Cobalt royalty. He’ll be back, and stronger for it too.
In the end, football is a simple game, and much of the success that comes with it lies simply in executing the basics and simple things correctly. Operating wholly as a unit, keeping things solid at the back, and taking your chances up front when they inevitably arrive. Profligacy represents too steep a tolerance in the pursuit of glory. We’ve already witnessed this consistently at various points throughout this season and returning to these set, consistent standards will represent the biggest tasks for Pablo and the team ahead of Saturday and in the Club’s remaining games this season.
- Luna and Julio Headliners, and a potential first for Gonçalves? Forwards Diego Luna and Anderson Julio will be expected to lead the attack in the absence of Club captain Chicho Arango, with new signing Diogo Gonçalves also looking to net his first goal for the Club.
When the Claret-and-Cobalt take the field on Wednesday at America First Field for the visit of Dallas, the team will be doing so without its illustrious captain, yet again, for the second time in its last four games, and the sixth in the last nine overall.
Club captain Chicho Arango was absent from Pablo Mastroeni’s side in the 2-0 win over New England on Aug. 31, after suffering a hamstring strain a week earlier in the San Jose defeat. Similarly, the 29-year-old will also be unavailable for selection on Wednesday due to a caution accumulation having sustained his fifth booking of the year in the first half of RSL’s debacle in Houston on Saturday.
In his absence, the mantle of leadership and responsibility in attack will be most expected to fall to team veterans Diego Luna and Anderson Julio, with new signing Diogo Gonçalves also primed to play a crucial role, himself looking to score his first goal in Claret-and-Cobalt colors, while several of his potential assist credits have been invisible due to a collective lack of finishing.
21-year-old Luna has enjoyed a breakthrough personal campaign to date, with five goals and 12 assists making for 17 direct goal contributions in 25 appearances this season. RSL’s diminutive creator-in-chief also currently sits joint-fourth for the most assists in the league but is yet to register a goal contribution since the league’s restart at the end of August and will be excited at the prospect of going up at home against a team he has already scored once against when both teams met at Toyota stadium earlier this season on May 25.
Alongside him, 28-year-old Julio has certainly represented one of RSL’s most trusted and dependable lieutenants throughout his time on the Wasatch Front. This season, the Ecuarodean striker has recorded a total of seven goals and two assists in 27 appearances and 10 starts, making him the team’s current second top scorer behind Chicho and with the departure of Andrés Gómez. Much like Luna, Julio also managed to get his name on the scoresheet against Dallas when both sides met back in May, with a rifled, long-range right-footed effort that stunned the entire ground, as well as a last-gasp assist for Nelson Palacio as RSL battled back from three goals down to secure a hard-fought 3-3 draw with what proved to be the last kick of the ball.
RSL’s number 29 continued his recent scoring and stunning form with the team’s first goal in the 2-0 win over New England about a fortnight ago and once again, in Chicho’s absence, will be expected to lead the line from the front when the team lines up against another side of Texan foes on Wednesday.
Behind him will also be new signing Gonçalves who will be aiming to get off the mark for his new Club since his transfer near the end of August. RSL’s new number 10 has started and finished all three games he’s been available for since his arrival, showing compelling flashes of brilliance in all three as well as crucial contributions to both goals scored in the New England win.
The 27-year-old has also come close on several occasions on opening the scoring but has found each of his attempts so far all thwarted by opposition goalkeepers.
Against Houston, Gonçalves twice came close to opening his account, first with a far post header in the first half and then a long-range effort in the second, but saw both his efforts claimed by Clark.
Against New England, despite not scoring, it was the Portuguese’s dedication and application in the press from the front that pressured Xavier Arreaga near the end of the first half into committing the terminal error which Julio would subsequently score from. Similarly, as well, it was his set-piece delivery from a freekick in the second half which eventually led to Phillip Quinton’s goal for RSL’s second on the night.
Despite having not gotten on the score sheet yet, the 27-year-old’s adaptation and contribution to the team have been evident for all to witness and will be hoping the stars align on Wednesday at America First Field in front of an adoring fanbase to belatedly score his first for the Club.
Actions, not words, and greater executions.
What will it be on Wednesday then? You’ll have to tune in to find out. The Claret-and-Cobalt are on the march again, best not to get left behind.
Get behind us one more time, and may the odds be ever in our favor.
