Chicho and Gómez (Batman and Robin); Luna and Eneli; Defensive Solidity all Key as RSL Tackle Upcoming Road Stint
Ladies and gentlemen of the beehive state, and from far and wide, welcome to storylines.
The date is May 23rd, 2024, and your beloved Claret-and-Cobalt currently sit four points clear at the top of the MLS Western Conference table. Life is good. “Best in the West” reverberates beyond a mere rhythmic saying, it’s a lifestyle, and one we have every intention to continue living.
After consecutive home wins over Seattle and Colorado wrapped up an impressive seven-point week, and with a full week to rest and recover, the Claret-and-Cobalt return to footballing action again this Saturday, May 25th, in the first of a series of travels which will see the team play three away games its next five fixtures in what will surely be a grueling examination of RSL’s title credentials. But if anyone can handle the pressure, you best believe it’s Pablo’s boys.
RSL head into what is set up to be a grinding set of MLS road fixtures on the back of its comprehensive 5-3 demolition of Colorado Rapids in the Rocky Mountain Cup derby last Saturday, a spellbinding encounter at America First Field. Goals from Chicho Arango, Andres Gómez and Anderson Julio - the Colombian pair each netting a brace plus an assist, with the Ecuadorean proving late insurance fireworks - completed a historic comeback win for RSL in a game where the team had to twice come from behind after initially going two goals down, scoring three goals in the final six minutes plus injury time to record a famous home triumph over its bitter rivals. The win represented only the second ever time in its 628-game MLS history that RSL had turned a two-goal home deficit into a two-goal victory.
The first match of this week’s theee-game series features a trip to Frisco, Texas to take on FC Dallas (3-6-3, 12 points, 12th West), against whom RSL have struggled in recent years, including two losses when the teams twice met last season. In the 52 RSL v Dallas games played across MLS, playoffs and Open Cup since 2005, the Utah side have managed 14 wins (total goals 59, PPG 1.1) and 12 draws against the Toros’ record of 26 wins (total goals 79, PPG 1.5). Given its impressive start to the 2024 campaign, however, RSL will be hoping for a reversal of those historic fortunes when the sides meet Saturday in what promises to be an enthralling contest.
Next Wednesday, Pablo Mastroeni’s men are away to Seattle Sounders before returning home to America First Field on Saturday, June 1 to host Austin FC, followed by a key international break the weekend of June 8 and then a Quebecois jaunt north of the Canadian border for a clash against CF Montreal.
Sitting atop the Western Conference table at the latest juncture in a decade and with postseason position firmly in its sights, RSL will be looking to take the most out of its upcoming games, some of which could be decided - or at least heavily influenced - by a few compelling narratives. Want to find out what Pablo’s boys are made of? Men of steel, history-makers, never-say-die attitude, trust that Pablo will have his road warriors ready for battle.
Storylines
- The win against Colorado, impressive as it was, featured an unusual defensive fragility which has been uncommon since the start of this campaign. Pablo will be looking to shore that up quickly before the boys take on Dallas.
- Chicho and Gomez: RSL’s Batman and Robin will be looking to continue their impressive form and connection this season.
- Moon boy Diego Luna will also be hoping to also continue his good run of performances after bagging a goal and two assists in his last two starts.
- Winning the midfield battle will be key for RSL against Dallas and on the road, and the performances of Emeka Eneli will be crucial in achieving this goal.
The Deep Dive
- The win against Colorado, impressive as it was, featured an unusual defensive fragility which has been uncommon since the start of this campaign. Pablo will be looking to shore that up quickly before the boys take on Dallas.
RSL’s 5-3 annihilation of Colorado was a statement win. Make no mistake, of that there can be no doubt. Two goals down within the first 20-minutes and down again by one early in the second half, Pablo Mastroeni’s men rallied back against all odds with three goals in the final six minutes plus injury time to pull off a great escape and record one of the most electric wins in the club’s history. A performance of champions. A lot has been said about RSL’s spirit of resilience and determination particularly during the Pablo Mastroeni era, and whilst that trait has constantly been on display every game for all to see, no game perhaps encapsulated that never-say-die belief and attitude moreso than Saturday’s Colorado victory.
However, despite the impressive win, it would be remiss to simply discard the season-high three goals conceded in this game, albeit in fortuitous circumstances for the visitors. Part of RSL’s success this season has been built on the back of its strong defense, aided by new tactical innovations for 2024. The centerback partnership of Justen Glad and Brayan Vera has proven to be one of the best in the country over the last season-plus, providing a crucial constant along the spine and the foundation for RSL’s defensive structure this campaign. Briefly explained, Pablo’s new tactical innovation is one that sees the team line up in a 4-2-3-1 structure at the start, but then morph into a 3-2-4-1 in possession.
In effect, the left winger - typically Diego Luna - tucks in to act as a second attacking midfielder, allowing the left back - likely Alex Katranis - to push up higher and occupy more advanced areas, with the right back - Andrew Brody or Bode Hidalgo - tucking in to act as a third centerback alongside Glad and Vera to help defend efficiently against quick transitions and counter attacks while ensuring overall defensive balance and solidity. RSL’s general defensive tenacity is evident by the fact that the team has recorded five clean sheets in 14 MLS games, one of the highest of any team in the nation’s top-most division. Furthermore, prior to the Colorado game, RSL had only allowed just 11 goals in its previous 13 contests, the stingiest in the West and second only to FC Cincinnati (10 GA) at the time.
However, against Colorado, that strong defensive foundation was punctuated by a series of mistakes and breakdowns that saw the team concede three goals in the opening 60 minutes. Individual errors and and uncharacteristic lack of cohesion along with lapses in concentration were rife in a display which otherwise would have made for another flawless defensive performance. Addressing this quickly will no doubt be the first order of business for the coaching staff for RSL to continue its winning form.
Remember, while the attack wins you games, defense is what wins you titles, 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 and Gomez: RSL’s Batman and Robin will be looking to continue their impressive form and connection this season.
Captain Chicho Arango and Andres Gómez, RSL’s very own “Batman and Robin.” The caped crusader and his boy wonder, bound by nationality, club, and a sense of devotion and brotherhood. The devastating Colombian duet continued their stunning form this season Saturday, both grabbing braces and assisting the other in the humiliation of Colorado, both surely looking to continue that fine form as the Claret-and-Cobalt head into a grueling set of road fixtures starting with FC Dallas.
Los Cafeteros combined have now directly contributed 20 goals and 12 assists in 14 RSL games this season, one of the most successful attacking pairings in Club history. Captain Chicho’s brace and assist in the last game represented the 28-year-old’s 12th and 13th goals and eighth assist of the current season. The Colombian striker has now directly contributed to a stunning 21 of RSL’s 27 goals this MLS campaign, trailing only the great Lionel Messi’s 22 contributions. Gómez’s brace also represented the young forward’s sixth and seventh goals of the season, making him the second-leading scorer in the team behind his captain and compatriot. Gómez’s seven goals also places him at ninth on the MLS top scorers chart this season, and his four assists means he now has 11 direct goal contributions this campaign.
The next set of fixtures could also prove important for Chicho in achieving a significant 50-goal career milestone. RSL’s superstar forward needs just one more goal to become only the eighth player in MLS history to reach 50 career MLS regular-season goals in 77 games or fewer. With a goal in either of his next two matches, the RSL captain would become the second-fastest active player in MLS history to reach the milestone, behind only Josef Martinez (54 games). It would also make him just the fourth active player to reach the mark in less than 100 games.
Chicho and Gómez have proven to be some of the most exciting players and talents in the country this season, rivaling even the talents and output of Messi and Miami teammate Luis Suarez. Just as important as its defense, if RSL hopes to take anything positive away from its testing next set of fixtures, it will need its Colombian providers playing at their absolute best.
- Moon boy Diego Luna will also be hoping to also continue his good run of performances after bagging a goal and two assists in his last two starts.
20-year-old Diego Luna is another young, talented star for RSL who will look to seize upon his recent run of impressive performances. The U.S. Olympic hopeful also proved to be one of the star performers in RSL’s comeback win over Colorado, driving his team forward as the heart of the attack, with his crucial carries and dribbles into the final third in Saturday’s performance which produced an impressive assist for the team’s second goal but could very easily have produced even more.
Luna also put in a breathtaking display in the game prior against Seattle Sounders - named to the MLS Team of the Matchday - tallying an assist in the first goal and then scoring the second, his poised chop and low curler for his second goal of the season in that night’s 58th minute, putting RSL two goals clear in the game en-route to an eventual victory.
Having recently returned from a calf injury suffered at Chicago in late April, the young attacker has gradually developed a crucial telepathic partnership with his teammates along the frontlines, particularly Chicho, Gómez, and Matt Crooks, which only bodes well for RSL’s offense as the season progresses. Whatever happens, “Moon Boy” (or as Brian Dunseth insists, “Moon Man”) will surely be another valuable attacker in the RSL arsenal.
- Winning the midfield battle will be key for RSL against Dallas and on the road, and the performances of Emeka Eneli will be crucial in achieving this goal.
More often than not, in soccer, games are won in the midfield engine room, and this is perhaps true even moreso for teams playing away from home. Winning the midfield battle is critical in all games, as it allows teams the freedom to dictate the tempo, flow and pace of the game to help overwhelm opponents. This is always a key factor for RSL as it tackles its next set of fixtures, and at the fulcrum to achieving this will be midfielder Emeka Eneli.
Second-year sensation Eneli - RAL’s lone “Irin man” for the 2024 season, has proven to be one of the best and most consistent cogs in Pablo Mastroeni’s winning machine and as a result has been a constant in the manager’s match day squad since the start of the season. The 24-year-old played the full 90 minutes Saturday for a 14th consecutive game, maintaining his status as the lone RSL player to play every single moment of MLS play this season and one of five MLS outfield players to have played the full 1260 minutes of action this year.
Eneli’s consistent combative and omnipresent displays in the middle of park, winning tackles, harassing opponents and dictating the tempo of games through sharp passing have helped RSL dominate matches and establish themselves as early title contenders this season.
The midfielder also recently scored his first goal of the season, also representing his first-ever professional goal and therefore his first for RSL, in a 2-1 loss to the Rapids on March 9th, but proving his industry and resourcefulness, and his ability to contribute at all ends of the pitch.
As always, the engine room consisting of Eneli and Paraguayan international Braian Ojeda as the pivots protecting the back four, establishing possession and serving as release valves, while linking in transition, will also be an important piece for the Claret-and-Cobalt going into this difficult run.
Enjoy the continued magic of RSL’s 2024 season starting Saturday, with a 6:30p MT kickoff at Dallas on MLS Season Pass / Apple TV+
