RSL Storylines: Retribution in Houston, Tactical Consistency, and a New Triumvirate

Welcome back to Storylines.

The date is Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, and Real Salt Lake currently sit third in the MLS Western Conference standings with a playoff position firmly in its own hands, but first place atop the West table still within its sights ahead of the Club’s final seven regular season games.

Ambition, resilience, success - and the promise of more to come.

After a two-week September international break, RSL return to MLS action on Saturday with a blockbuster away date and rivalry match against the Houston Dynamo at Shell Energy Stadium. Kickoff for this contest is at 6:30 p.m. MT.

The Claret-and-Cobalt arrive at this fixture on the back of an assured showing, and a return to winning ways, from its last outing where goals from Anderson Julio and a first for Phillip Quinton guided the team to a commanding 2-0 victory over the New England Revolution at America First Field on Aug. 31.

In what promises to be yet another grueling examination of the team’s title credentials, Pablo Mastroeni’s charges travel to the Gulf Coast for the first of its final seven regular season games, and against its perennial antagonists in Houston in what, over recent years, has gradually but surely developed into one of the most hotly contested and highly anticipated rivalries in the West.

The weekend’s clash represents both sides’ third meeting this season, with RSL enjoying a 3-2 comeback win over its perpetual foes in their previous MLS encounter on July 3 at America First Field, before suffering a frustrating 0-3 defeat when the two teams met again most recently in both sides’ 2024 Leagues Cup Group 8 qualification decider.

Saturday night, thus, finds itself fraught with several potential narratives and presents a most glorious opportunity for vengeance and reprisal, and a chance for the team to banish its demons in the Bayou City.

The season’s conclusion is nigh and the Claret-and-Cobalt go marching in again. As always in storylines, we preview some of the biggest select narratives that could swing the pendulum in our favor.

Storylines

• A chance to banish our demons: Saturday’s opponents have proven a perennial thorn in the Claret-and-Cobalt’s collective flesh over the past few years, including a frustrating Leagues Cup debacle at the start of August. The upcoming iteration, thus, presents an opportunity to turn the tide and record a definitive statement ahead of a final set of games where mentality is sure to play a crucial role.
• The 2-0 win over New England a fortnight ago represented a major highlight of the team’s tactical progress and consistency, maintaining this will surely also prove crucial for Pablo ahead of the weekend and the subsequent run of games.
• A new triumvirate: The weekend’s clash could also potentially see the trio of Captain Chicho Arango, Diego Luna, and new signing Diogo Gonçalves all line up together for the first time in the formation of a new attacking trinity.

Where to Watch

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

Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. MT on Saturday, Sept. 14.

The Deep Dive

1. A chance to banish our demons: Saturday’s opponents have proven a perennial thorn in the Claret-and-Cobalt’s collective flesh over the past few years, including a frustrating Leagues Cup debacle at the start of August. The upcoming iteration, thus, presents an opportunity to turn the tide and record a definitive statement ahead of a final set of games where mentality is sure to play a crucial role.

When the Utah Royals - RSL’s sister club - defeated the Houston Dash 3-1 at Shell Energy Stadium on the final day of August in both sides’ NWSL matchday 18 fixture, the opening paragraph from a match recap article published late that night on KSL.com read:

“The Utah Royals did what Real Salt Lake hasn't been able to do since 2018: win a game in Houston.”

A perhaps fair objective review, but harsh indictment nonetheless, of the Claret-and-Cobalt’s struggles on the Gulf Coast. Facts are facts at the end of the day and exist for a reason, even though such purposes might not always be the most pleasant. Saturday’s game, thus, becomes even more important.

Real Salt Lake vs Houston Dynamo - a matchup long in the making. A contest of retribution and atonement, to right the wrongs and heartaches of seasons past and reconcile the excitement of present triumphs with the promises of future glory. A battle to the bitter end. The objective is simple - only one club must be left standing at the end of 90 minutes on Saturday, and it cannot be anyone but the Claret-and-Cobalt.

As if by some cruel twist of fate, RSL went up against Houston six different times last season, across three different competitions, suffering heartbreak at each crucial turn. Pablo Mastroeni’s men suffered elimination at the hands of their perennial adversaries in both the 120-minute Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal and a hotly-contested first-round, best-of-three series in the Audi MLS Cup playoff that saw shootouts in legs two and three determine the winner.

In the six games between the sides in 2023, the Claret-and-Cobalt recorded four defeats, a goalless draw, and a tense hard-fought victory which arrived courtesy of a penalty shoot-out. Perhaps more tellingly, as it relates to the weekend’s iteration, as earlier alluded to, RSL’s last domestic win against the Orange at Shell Energy Stadium came back in August 2018 where a late brace from Albert Rusnák in the final 10 minutes of stoppage time earned the side a come-from-behind 2-1 win in enemy territory.

Victory, therefore, is paramount on Saturday, as much to finally, belatedly deliver a positive fulfilling narrative against its opponents as well as to appease its adoring fanbase, ever faithful and resolute in its undying devotion, for the sufferings of the past. With the team also set to embark on a final seven-game end-of-season run, a positive mentality and approach will certainly be key and most crucial to achieving this task, as Pablo has so consistently stressed already throughout the campaign.

A comfortable 2-0 victory in the team’s last game against New England right before the international break ended a run of consecutive defeats and marked a return to winning ways ahead of its final stretch.

“It was about being who we are,” RSL’s head coach explained to the media in the aftermath of the New England Result. “We started the game with a great mindset and played to our mentality… and were able to overcome a poor performance the week before with a really sharp one this week, and that should be our standard moving forward.”

“Again, for me, it’s always about mindset, and because of the quality that these players have, it’s the belief and understanding that if my teammate makes a mistake, I’m going to try and make up for it. When you have 11 guys working hard for each other on both sides of the ball, their quality shines through… so these moments are really important for the group, especially down the stretch because every game gets tighter and every team is vying for the same objective of making the playoffs. But more importantly, it was about a reaction [from last week] because words are cheap, but it is the actions behind the words that make it real or not.”

As a manager, mentality has consistently been one of Pablo’s biggest teachings. Everything else he’s achieved and managed to instill into his players throughout his career has been accomplished upon the preachings and foundation of having the mentality and mindset to be able to consistently deliver and bounce back each and every time. No one better understands the Club’s frustrations in Houston, and no one is better placed to coaxing out a result and performance from the team than RSL’s inspirational, alchemical head coach.

The team has also already enjoyed one win against the Dynamo earlier this season when goals from Andrés Gómez, Diego Luna, and a first of the season from Braian Ojeda led it to a come-from-behind 3-2 victory at America First Field, and will no doubt be looking towards this result, alongside several others against other teams this season, as a source of inspiration heading into the weekend’s crucial tie.

• The 2-0 win over New England a fortnight ago represented a major highlight of the team’s tactical progress and consistency, maintaining this will surely also prove crucial for Pablo ahead of the weekend and the subsequent run of games.

RSL’s win over New England was impressive for more than a few reasons. Chief amongst them, as aforementioned, being the team's resilience and mental fortitude to recover from a difficult result the week before, but equally crucial was the tactical display and adeptness of the players in ensuring tactical efficiency which all but nullified the visitors’ own effectiveness and game plan for much of the contest.

RSL’s 3-2-4-1 setup alongside its variation and boldness in play utterly caught its opponents off guard and allowed the team consistently exploit space high up in the middle, through direct vertical passes through the lines of the opposition press, as well as out wide on the flanks. So much so, in fact, that by the end of the first half, RSL had generated an impressive xG of 1.50 with six of its shots being on target, compared to the 0.15 xG and 1 shot on target created by New England throughout the same period, displaying an efficiency in defense and attack. By the end of the second half, that number had risen to 2.26 for RSL against NE’s 0.64.

Beginning this weekend, the team heads into its final stretch of regular season games which will see it play three separate games all in the space of a week, and four and three home and away games respectively in a concluding seven-game run before the commencement of playoffs. With such a hectic and arous schedule, as important as having the right mentality will do doubt prove to be, maintaining its effective and familiar tactical identity will also be crucially important of the team hopes to achieve results.

Having a strong mentality enables a team to effectively navigate hurdles and adversity, and also fosters confidence, discipline, and motivation all within a team. Having tactical effectiveness and cohesiveness, on the other hand, provides a structured approach that consequently enables teams perform consistently at a high level. A clear plan helps to minimize randomness ensuring everyone is aware their of roles and responsibilities within a team’s tactical setup.

The two work hand-in-hand towards the ultimate achievement of success, and just as much as its mentality, RSL will need to ensure it operates with complete tactical cohesion and understanding when the team take the field against Houston on Saturday.

• A new triumvirate: The weekend’s clash could also potentially see the trio of Captain Chicho Arango, Diego Luna, and new signing Diogo Gonçalves all line up together for the first time in the formation of a new attacking trinity.

RSL’s fearsome trinity of Diego Luna, captain Chicho Arango, and recently departed fan favorite Andrés Gómez formed much of the spine behind the team’s impressive offensive output for much of the first half of the season before the latter’s departure for Rennes in August. RSL then went on to enjoy its busiest, and perhaps successful, summer transfer window with the signings of four attacking players much of whom will be expected to offset the impact caused by the loss of Gómez.

Most acclaimed, however, is perhaps new designated player and number 10 Diogo Gonçalves, signed from Danish giants Copenhagen at the beginning of August. Saturday could see RSL’s new Portuguese magnifico line up alongside Luna and Chicho in what would make for a new-look triumvirate heralding a new age of the Claret-and-Cobalt and offering a tantalizing prospect to what the trio could achieve together on the pitch.

RSL’s captain, Chicho has enjoyed a stellar campaign to date with an impressive 17-goal and 11-assist haul making for 28 combined goals and assists in 22 starts and 24 total regular season games this season. The Colombian striker currently sits second in the Golden Boot race, a single goal behind DC United’s Christian Benteke with 18 goals this campaign.

RSL’s number nine, standing on the precipice of more greatness, continues to be the most singular leading light in Pablo’s arsenal. With 17 regular season goals, Chicho equaled the Club’s single-season record set a decade ago by Alvaro Sobario and now stands on the precipice of even more greatness with the opportunity to break the longstanding record and claim it all for his lonesome.

The jewel of the West, and the unchallenged king on the Wasatch, with Chicho on the pitch RSL rarely ever lose, and are certainly always in with a chance, having missed the team’s win over New England due to an injury, his return will certainly be be a welcome boost for Pablo heading into another crucial run of games.

21-year-old Luna, much like his captain, has also enjoyed a phenomenal personal season throughout 2024, and arguably the best in his young career to date. RSL’s creative metronome currently sits joint-fourth for the most assists in the league, with 12, alongside his five goals scored this season.

In what has been a record-breaking personal campaign, Luna’s hattrick of assists during the 5-2 win over Atlanta on July 6 represented his second triple-assist game of the year and only the fourth time an RSL player had ever recorded three assists in a single contest in the Club’s history

His 12 assists also place him just three away from matching RSL’s single-season assist record of 15, set a decade-and-a-half ago by the iconic Javier Morales in 2008, a record he could match and possibly overtake in the team’s seven concluding games - a chance at further greatness.

New Signing Gonçalves represents the Claret-and-Cobalt’s most acclaimed acquisition during the recently concluded summer window. RSL’s new number 10 made his debut in the team’s 2-0 home defeat to San Jose on Aug 24 before his second appearance, an even more complete and assured showing, in the win against New England during which he had a hand in both of the team’s goals on the night.

Gonçalves arrives as an experienced superstar, in his own right, from Europe where the attacking midfielder registered 21 goals and eight assists in 57 games for Copenhagen, including three goals in 13 Uefa Champions League appearances, and 14 goals in 38 league appearances for FCK, officially recognized as the most successful Danish side in European competition.

With Chicho back and available for selection, alongside Luna and Gonçalves, RSL’s new attacking trinity surely look a formidable prospect and force to deal with, and alongside its host of other superstars, the team looks surely primed for more progress and success on the horizon.

Will this be the game where Chicho scores his long-anticipated, record-breaking 18th goal? Or will it be another Luna-inspired masterclass or perhaps a first goal for the Club’s new number 10? You’ll have to tune in to find out, and you just might witness history in the making!

The Claret-and-Cobalt are on the march again, and may the odds - as always - be most ever in our favor.

For tickets, schedules, info, news, and more about the Western Conference’s great entertainers, visit rsl.com/tickets