RSL Storylines: Bounceback Time Versus Dynamo

RSL Storylines: Bounceback Time Versus Dynamo

By Daniel Obinyan

Dearest readers welcome back to storylines.

The date is now Monday, July 1st, 2024, and for the first time in several weeks, RSL no longer sits atop the Western Conference standings. Defeat in the team’s last game at home against LA Galaxy meant the Claret-and-Cobalt was forced to relinquish its solo position at the top of the table following LAFC’s win on the same day. Beyond that, the Galaxy’s win in its game during RSL’s idle June 29 weekend means that the Utah side dropped to third and now sit behind both LA outfits, but with a game in hand on the Galaxy.

RSL go into another busy fixture period on the back of a frustrating 1-0 loss to LA Galaxy on June 22, at a packed America First Field, only its third MLS defeat of the 2024 MLS season, and its first in more than 100 days over 16 league games dating back to March 9. The result snapped the Club’s all-time single-season record 15-match unbeaten run, during which RSL had been unbeaten for 103 consecutive days prior to the defeat, matching the second-longest run in MLS history, set three times before (Portland, 2013 and 2018; Colorado, 2016). The 2024 season, however, continues to deliver compelling storylines and write its own headlines, with 10 wins, seven draws, and just three losses thus far totaling 37 points from 20 games.

After more than a week to reset, rest, and recover, Pablo Mastroeni’s men return to action this Wednesday, hosting Houston Dynamo at America First Field in an Independence Day fireworks celebration, RSL in search of a return to winning ways.

Kickoff for this game - RSL expecting another electric, standing-room-only crowd in Sandy - is slated for 7:30 pm MT. Real Salt Lake need the full three points at home to bounce back and serve notice that RSL is serious about its Supporters Shield pursuit, and that the Sandy-based Riot atmosphere at America First Field is once again a veritable fortress.

Want to discover what truly composes this team? Let’s see how they boys react to a disappointing home loss against a difficult opponent. You best believe that Mastroeni and Co. will have the group ready to go again. Here are a few storylines to consider.

Storylines

• It’s never fun to lose a game, and last Saturday’s streak-snapping defeat was especially painful. The good news is that - as has been pointed out consistently throughout his tenure - Mastroeni has a proven knack for lifting his team back up after a loss. He and the boys will no doubt be learning their lessons from the Galaxy result in preparation for the next phase of the season.

• The Galaxy game, despite the loss, featured a significant defensive improvement from some of the team’s recent other games. Pablo will want to continue and build on this solid defensive foundation when the Dynamo roll into town.

• Chicho’s record-breaking season. RSL’s Captain made history for himself and the Club against Kansas and has the chance to continue to do so with a goal or more against Houston Dynamo.

The Deep Dive

• It’s never fun to lose a game, and last Saturday’s streak-snapping defeat was especially painful. The good news is that - as has been pointed out consistently throughout his tenure - Mastroeni has a proven knack for lifting his teams back up after a loss. He and the boys will no doubt be learning their lessons from the Galaxy result in preparation for the next phase of the season.

The June 22 defeat to the Galaxy was a disappointing one, simple as that. In a game RSL mostly dominated from start to finish, Pablo Mastroeni’s men boasted a higher share of possession, including more shots and shots on target than the visitors - holding them without even a single shot on target through the first 45 minutes. However, despite its dominance, RSL ultimately struggled to make the most of its chances when it mattered most and consequently succumbed to a frustrating defeat against the run of play.

The result represented only RSL’s third defeat of the season and its first in more than 100 days over its last 16 games. More compellingly perhaps, it also snapped the Club’s all-time single-season record 15-match unbeaten run, dating back to March 9. RSL had been unbeaten for 103 consecutive days prior to the defeat, matching the second-longest run in MLS history, set three times before (Portland, 2013 and 2018; Colorado, 2016).

One silver lining, however, could be that with the defeat, the pressure and burden of having to maintain such a historic unbeaten run could perhaps finally be lifted, allowing the team to revert to playing with more freedom, and less fear and pressure. Moreover, as aforementioned, the last time RSL lost a game in the league, (1-2 v Colorado Rapids on March 9), the team proceeded to go on a 15-game unbeaten streak, breaking numerous records in the process, including the best start to a season in franchise history. Therefore, if recent form is anything to go by, fans should at the very least expect to be in for an electrifying encounter on Wednesday night.

Another encouraging trend is that Pablo has a proven knack for lifting teams back up after a loss, evident with just nine back-to-back losses in 121 games managed since August 2021 at RSL. One of the biggest things Pablo preaches is the importance of mentality, and that mentality is part of the reason RSL has this season recorded its best-ever start to a new campaign in the franchise’s history, and the ultimate secret to the team’s success thus far this year. There’s a methodology to Pablo’s teachings. It’s not just about playing hard, but also about playing smart - and mostly, playing for each other. The tougher the situation, the more “stuck in” Pablo’s team seems to be, and you best believe he and his coaching staff will be getting the boys battle-ready for what promises to continue to be a record-shattering season.

• The Galaxy game, despite the loss, featured a significant defensive improvement from some of the team’s recent other games. Pablo will want to continue and build on this solid defensive foundation when the Dynamo roll into town.

Another silver lining from the Galaxy loss, in addition to the nature of RSL’s dominance throughout the contest, was its marked defensive improvement and solidity. With first-choice centerbacks **Justin Glad** and **Brayan Vera** both unavailable, the back four consisting of **Bryan Oviedo** and **Bode Hidalgo** and fullbacks **Andrew Brody** and **Alex Katranis** provided a mostly solid and assured foundation for RSL’s gameplan on the night. It represented a significant defensive improvement from the chaotic 4-3 win against Sporting Kansas City in the team’s preceding game just 72 hours earlier, and despite being unlucky to concede the solitary goal of the contest against the run of play, on another night could well have earned a deserved clean sheet.

Pablo will be emphasizing to the group the need to replicate that defensive performance and maintain its strong overall defensive record starting with the visit of Houston Dynamo on Wednesday. Pablo will also have the luxury of being able to recall Vera to his starting lineup after the Colombian enforcer completed his one-match caution suspension that left him out of the Galaxy game.

The competition near the top is heating up now and the stakes are higher than ever before, growing with each passing game - no pun intended. On the back of its best start to a season in franchise history, the collective RSL destiny remains in its own hands to mold as it wishes, and if RSL stands any chance of maintaining its push for silverware across multiple competitions, it needs to maintain its near-impenetrable defensive record.

• Chicho’s record-breaking season. RSL’s Captain made history for himself and the Club against Kansas City, and has the chance to continue to do so with a goal or more against Houston Dynamo.

RSL’s Captain and flagbearer **Chicho Arango** was forced off early in the game against the Galaxy after suffering a nasty head collision with Martin Caceres, but should be available in time to return at America First Field against the Dynamo.

The 29-year-old continued his record-breaking season in the team’s last road game against Sporting Kansas by providing an assist late on for RSL’s fourth and game-winning goal to become just the third-ever RSL player - out of 210 to have logged league minutes with the Utah side - to have a 10g/10a campaign, joining Jeff Cunningham (2006) and Albert Rusnák (2021). Chicho’s game-winning assist against SKC was also his team-high fifth of the year, out of 10 wins thus far in 2024.

Furthermore, with 16 goals already this season, Chicho now needs just one more goal to tie the franchise single-season record of 17 goals set by Alvaro Saborio over a decade ago in 2012, and two more to break and claim sole possession of the all-time single-season RSL Golden Boot record, and all this with nearly half the season still to play for.

Chicho’s hat trick in the team’s June 1 home win against Austin FC earned him sole possession of the current MLS Golden Boot lead with 16 goals, two more than his closest competitor (C. Benteke, DC, 14). It also made him the second RSL player to score multiple career hat tricks (two in 30 MLS games), joining Alvaro Saborio, who scored three in 127 regular season games (two of Sabo’s hat tricks came in 2012; should Chicho score another hat trick this season, he would become just the eighth all-time MLS player with three hat tricks in a single-season). Monumental!

As if all that wasn’t already enough, Chicho’s goalscoring exploits against Austin also meant the 29-year-old Colombian became the third-fastest MLS player to reach 25 goals and assists in a season this year, with only 17 games played at the time.

Chicho has undoubtedly become the most important figure in Pablo’s attacking arsenal and RSL fans will be counting on their captain to continue his magical season and lead the bounceback to guide the team to new heights when the team takes America First Field for the showdown against Houston Dynamo on Wednesday.