RSL Storylines: On the Precipice of Qualification, and the Magnificent’s Return

Monday’s clash in Houston presents the Claret-and-Cobalt with a glorious opportunity for knockout qualification, boosted by the return of Captain Cristian Arango, the magnificent.

Welcome back to storylines.

It’s another quick turnaround matchweek which means less time dwelling on the events of the former, be they good or bad, and getting back into gear and straight down to business.

RSL got off to the perfect start to its 2024 Leagues Cup campaign with a hard-fought, come-from-behind 2-1 win against Liga MX side Atlas FC, in front of yet another sold-out 20,956 crowd at America First Field, in Thursday night’s curtain raiser courtesy of an **Anderson Julio** header at the first-half death and a 40-yard goal of the tourney contender from **Nelson Palacio**.

With the events of Thursday night’s opener now firmly concluded, Pablo and Co. now turn attention to Monday night’s group stage finale against Houston Dynamo to round off West Group 8, with the opportunity to finish top of the group and secure a knockout berth in the tournament for a second consecutive season. Kickoff for this game at Shell Energy Stadium is at 7:00 pm MT.

If Thursday’s game is any indicator, Monday night should promise to be yet another nail-biting, action-packed advert for both the sport and Real Salt Lake’s growing influence on the continent.

Glory beckons - and opportunity awaits for Pablo and the boys in the team’s undying quest and pursuit of Leagues Cup immortality, and as always in storylines, we preview some of the most compelling narratives and information that could swing the pendulum, be it ever so gently, in our favor.

Storylines

• Opportunity for Revenge in Houston: RSL suffered narrow yet definitive losses last season against the Dynamo. The game on Monday thus presents an opportunity to exact vengeance on its opponents. This season’s earlier fixture between both sides could also provide some inspiration ahead of a crucial encounter, with the added opportunity to gain some momentum.

• The Magnificent’s Return: Monday night’s parley in Houston will also see the return of RSL Captain Cristian “Chicho” Arango for the first time in four games, seeking some personal absolution with himself on the precipice of more individual greatness as the face of the Claret-and-Cobalt glitterati.

• Chance to Impress: The group stage finale, as well as the rest of the competition, could also provide the team’s new signings as well as young prospects from the Monarchs with an opportunity to impress and perhaps begin to pave a path for themselves in the first team.

Where to Watch

You can catch RSL at Houston on Apple TV’s MLS Season Pass right here https://tv.apple.com/

Kickoff is at 7:00 p.m. MT on Monday, Aug. 5.

The Deep Dive

• Opportunity for Revenge in Houston: RSL suffered narrow yet definitive losses last season against the Dynamo. The game on Monday thus presents an opportunity to exact vengeance on its opponents. This season’s earlier fixture between both sides could also provide some inspiration ahead of a crucial encounter, with the added opportunity to gain some momentum.

Last year, RSL went up against Houston six different times across three different competitions, suffering elimination in both the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal (a 3-1 defeat AET) and a hotly-contested first-round, best-of-three series in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs that saw shootouts in legs two and three determine the winner. In the six 2023 games played between the sides, the Claret-and-Cobalt endured a total of four defeats, with one being on penalties, and a goalless draw, with the team’s only victory being a 5-4 penalty shootout win after a 1-1 draw in normal time in the second leg of the MLS playoffs which, as aforementioned, the team would go on to suffer elimination from.

As such, Monday night’s clash at Shell Energy Stadium goes far beyond being just any mere Leagues Cup game. As well as offering the chance to renew rivalries well-established last season, it presents Pablo and the boys the opportunity for absolution in front of their adoring, watching fans, and retribution for the heartache of the previous year’s tragedies.

RSL have already come up against the Dynamo once this season, a riveting come-from-behind 3-2 victory on July 3 where the team twice came from behind courtesy of goals from **Andrés Gómez**, **Diego Luna**, and a first of the season from **Braian Ojeda** in an enthralling MLS contest at America First Field.

Having already secured victory once this season in the sides’ earlier encounter, RSL will no doubt be looking to its previous result against the Orange as a source of inspiration and a foundation upon which to build when taking the field in Monday night’s group stage finale.

The matchup also presents the opportunity for a win to finish comfortably atop the group, guaranteeing a home Round of 32 match whilst also gaining some much-needed momentum ahead of a predictably challenging tournament path and the resumption of the MLS regular season on Aug. 24. As always, the aim of the game remains to win, and no doubt Pablo and the boys will go into this match with a point to prove and in search of all three points.

• The Magnificent’s Return: Monday night’s parley in Houston will also see the return of RSL Captain Cristian “Chicho” Arango for the first time in four games, seeking some personal absolution and himself on the precipice of more individual greatness at the head of the Claret-and-Cobalt glitterati.

RSL captain and leader **Chicho Arango** is set to make his long-awaited return to first-team action in Monday night’s group stage finale in Houston, in what will no doubt be a welcome sight for fans across the globe.

The Colombian striker and current MLS Golden Boot leader has yet to feature for the Claret-and-Cobalt since the team’s 3-0 loss away against Portland Timbers on July 13, after being hit with a four-match ban which included three RSL games, and the recently concluded MLS All-Star game, as punishment for violating MLS Policy.

RSL’s swashbuckling leader has no doubt enjoyed a fairytale campaign up until this point, wreaking exploit upon exploit and leading the charge for RSL in the Claret-and-Cobalt’s relentless pursuit of silverware for a first time since 2009.

In the games before his suspension, Chicho made history - scoring a record-breaking 17th league goal of the season, and in the process, tying the Club’s single-season goal record set by RSL legend Alvaro Saborio all the way back in 2012, more than a decade ago. The Magnificent now needs just one more goal, between the restart of the MLS regular season on Aug 24 and its end in October, to break the long-standing record and claim it for his lonesome.

His 63-yard wondergoal on June 1 against Austin made him just the eighth player in Major League Soccer history to reach 50 career MLS regular season goals in 79 games or fewer, and his eventual hat trick in that game also made him the third-fastest MLS player to reach 25 goals and assists in a season this year, with only 17 games played at the time.

RSL’s flagbearer also still leads the MLS Golden Boot race with 17 goals in 23 games and 21 starts, one ahead of his nearest contender - Christian Benteke of DC United.

Indeed, to say it has been a record-breaking season for Chicho would, in fact, by all accounts qualify as an understatement. Such has been the manner and consistency of his feats this year, and long may they continue.

The magnificent’s return will surely be a welcome boost for RSL, which has unsurprisingly struggled to replicate their Captain’s genius and prowess in the games since his absence, having struggled to a solitary win, a draw, and a narrow, demoralizing defeat in the Rocky Mountain Cup final to Colorado for the first time since 2015, all in its last three games. And Pablo will no doubt be counting on his most trusted attacker to deliver the goods yet again and hit the ground running on his return in Houston if RSL are to harbor hopes of lifting the much-coveted Leagues Cup trophy come the end of August.

• Chance to Impress: The group stage finale, as well as the rest of the competition, could also provide the team’s new signings as well as young prospects from the Monarchs with an opportunity to impress and perhaps begin to pave a path for themselves in the first team.

Youth, courage, success - three words that have defined English Club Manchester United for over a generation as the foundation upon which the storied club was built and has modeled itself for over a century.

Over here on the other side of the Atlantic, in Sandy/Herriman, Utah - those same words have, by all accounts, also rung true, albeit not as an official part of RSL’s mantra, but nonetheless as the basis upon which Real Salt Lake has itself operated through the pathways between the youth teams, Real Monarchs, and the first team. Ample evidence in the shape of several past and current first-team stars exists as a strong testament to this claim including current household names such as **Justen Glad** and **Andrew Brody**, **Bode Hidalgo** and emerging young talent Gavin Beavers.

This season alone, four players from the Monarchs, the club’s MLS NEXT Pro developmental side - **Zavier Gozo**, Fidel Barajas (now transferred), **Noel Caliskan**, and most recently, **Matthew Bell**, have all made appearances and seen competitive minutes action for the first team, with even more opportunities now available during the Club’s Leagues cup campaign.

With the restart of the MLS regular season only three weeks away, the Leagues Cup could provide opportunities for Pablo and his coaching staff to continue to introduce and ease in some of the Club’s brightest young prospects in preparation for seasons to come. Caliskan, Gozo, and Bell already currently represent some of the immediate Monarchs candidates for first-team action, others include forwards Ilijah Paul and Bertin Jacquesson, defenders Zack Farnsworth and Tommy Silva, Goalkeeper Fernando Delgado, and midfielder Jazi Orozco.

Midfielder Caliskan has already made two early appearances for RSL and only recently signed a deal to the Club’s MLS first-team roster in June following a series of fine performances for both the first team and Real Monarchs, which all further underline the Club’s vision and emphasis on winning together through development, demonstrative of the pathway at Real Salt Lake for any deserving of it.

New signing Javain Brown is another candidate also looking to impress during RSL’s Leagues Cup campaign, alongside attacker Benji Michel and potentially Lachlan Brook.

Having only recently signed for the club from the Vancouver Whitecaps, RSL fans will also be hoping for the opportunity to size up Brown in the side’s upcoming games and beyond, an opportunity the 25-year-old himself relishes,

“I’ve always felt that RSL is a top club, in which I see a team and staff who have a great collective spirit,” Brown explained, en route to Salt Lake City from Vancouver. “I’ve experienced first-hand the quality of football RSL plays, it’s an exciting style for sure. I’m really looking forward to working under Pablo and I’m very appreciative of the opportunity to integrate with him, the staff, and obviously a very talented group of players. To the supporters, I am excited to represent you and this great city. I’ll give everything I have to help this club reach its goals, and I can’t wait to meet you.”

Primarily a right back, the Jamaica international is known for his pace, ball-playing ability and distribution, and work rate, and is equally adept at operating at center back - with his versatility also being one of his greatest qualities.

Forward Benji Michel is another new signing who will be raring to go for RSL during the Leagues Cup, having been eased in as a substitute in the club’s last two games against Colorado and Atlas. New midfield signing Lachlan Brook is currently awaiting his U.S. work visa paperwork completion and will be available for selection upon its completion.

The stakes are higher now than ever before, and we for one would certainly not have it any other way, so once again grab a drink, sit back and relax, and tune in.

Glory beckons, immortality awaits, and may the odds be ever in our favor.

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