Patience and persistence. That’s the mantra at Real Salt Lake training this week as the club seeks its first win of the 2017 season on Saturday against the LA Galaxy.
Persistence to keep doing the things that have earned RSL 29 shots through two matches, while limiting the opposition to just 15 shots in the same span. And the patience to know that the talent is there and the goals will come. That’s not to say there isn’t a sense of urgency to break the early scoreless trend though.
“Of course we’re concerned with getting goals,” Real Salt Lake Head Coach Jeff Cassar said on ESPN 700’s Bill Riley Show on Tuesday. “I believe we’re creating enough opportunities. Sometimes you’ve just got to get that one to break the game open.”
The focus this week with LA coming to town is on getting into better positions and getting more numbers into the box. That was evident at Wednesday evening’s open session that saw a smattering of fans in the seats at Rio Tinto Stadium.
And while injuries to Joao Plata and Jordan Allen have caused Cassar to open up his options in the wing positions, their absences against the Chicago Fire last week didn’t prevent RSL from garnering 12 shots in the match. However, with just one shot on goal, it wasn’t solely a matter of getting shots, but the quality of those shots.
“No one in this building is happy about it. What we need to do is create more opportunities for the offensive players,” Cassar said. “But there also has to be an onus that it’s not about the amount created, it’s taking the opportunities that are given.”
It is just a two-game trend, but it is an issue that RSL is looking to remedy sooner than later to stay on pace with the Western Conference pack. With the 0-2-0 LA Galaxy coming to town after dropping two home games – already more home defeats than LA suffered in 2016 and 2014 and as many as they had in 2015 and 2013 – that increases the urgency for RSL.
“We’re staying positive,” Cassar said. “It’s a long season, but we do understand that we do, this weekend, have to create more clear-cut chances.”
To hear the full interview with Bill Riley, click here.
