Chicho and Ando Headline Upcoming Fixtures; Defensive Restructure; Home Advantage All Key for RSL in Upcoming Set of Games
Dearest gentle readers, welcome back to storylines.
The date is now June 13, 2024, and your beloved Claret-and-Cobalt continue to sit atop the MLS Western Conference standings, now three points clear of its nearest challengers in LAFC, and riding on the back of nine wins, six draws, and just two losses so far this campaign, the 33 points representing the best start to a season in the franchise’s history.
Life, as they say, is good.
“Best in the West” continues to reverberate ever so loudly throughout the cornerstones of the Club’s foundations. Far beyond just any mere saying, it represents a mantra, a belief, a way of life. It underscores a commitment to perseverance, consistency, and excellence in all we do, from every single member of the #DaleReal family. Indeed, here at RSL, we truly are more than the sum of our collective parts, and your continuous, dedicated support is vital as we continue to push until the very end.
RSL return to footballing action again this weekend, this Saturday, June 15, following a much-needed international bye weekend, in the first of a series of pivotal clashes which will continue to shape the destiny of the Claret-and-Cobalt this season as Pablo Mastroeni’s men pursue domestic glory in what has by all accounts already proven to be a record-breaking campaign thus far.
RSL head into this next set of competitive fixtures on the back of a dominant result in its last outing, where goals from Captain Chicho Arango, and Anderson Julio, scoring a hattrick and a brace respectively, set the stage for a comprehensive 5-1 drubbing of Austin FC at America First Field. The result represented only the second time in Mastroeni’s 118-game tenure in charge that RSL had scored five goals in a single match, both arriving in the last two weeks (May 18, 5-3 over Colorado). With three upcoming home games preceded by two road trips in its next five fixtures, RSL seeks to replicate its dominant form and continue its impressive home/road splits so far this season, knowing that a target is on its collective back, with every opponent looking to strike down the West No. 1.
The first of the upcoming five-game series features a trip to Quebec Saturday to face CF Montreal at Stade Saputo, with kickoff slated for 5:30 pm MT. Next Wednesday sees RSL travel to battle rival Sporting Kansas City, whom RSL have already defeated when the sides met earlier in the season on May 4 at America First Field. The quintuple-game series will then be wrapped up with crucial home ties against LA Galaxy, Houston Dynamo and Atlanta United on June 22, July 3 and July 6, respectively.
As the season slowly but surely departs its midway point, the stakes are higher now more than ever before, increasing with each game that goes by; as always in storylines, we preview some of the most compelling narratives which could sway the results in our favor.
Storylines
- Recent defensive fragility is still a slight worry for RSL. Pablo will be looking to shore this up once and for all ahead of the trip to Montreal.
- Chicho, Chicho, and Chicho again. RSL’s captain and flag bearer will be the centerpiece to Pablo’s plans on the road and crucial to the team getting the most out of its next set of games. Andrés Gómez will also be another important piece.
- Anderson Julio - the surprise man in form.
- Home advantage will be key against LA Galaxy, Houston Dynamo and Atlanta United.
The Deep Dive
- Recent defensive fragility is still a slight worry for RSL. Pablo will be looking to shore this up once and for all ahead of the trip to Montreal.
Eight goals conceded, 54 shots allowed, and at least seven direct individual mistakes all leading to goal … RSL’s defensive stats over its last four games doesn’t make for particularly great reading does it? The lone penalty goal concession against Austin also made it the teams fourth consecutive game unable to secure a clean sheet, condemning it to just one shutout in the last seven matches, a 2-0 home win over Seattle.
Much of RSL’s success this season has been built on the back of a strong impenetrable defense with Justen Glad and Brayan Vera as the main defensive linchpins. Indeed, whilst recent defensive showings have left much more to be desired, the Claret-and-Cobalt statistically continue to own the second-best defensive record in the Western Conference, having conceded only 19 goals in total so far, tied with LAFC and only one goal behind Houston Dynamo (18).
However, recent defensive performances have fallen terrifyingly shy of the established standards. The historic 5-3 comeback against Colorado on May 18 overshadowed what was a poor defensive display. That was then followed up a week later with an even more conspicuous defensive horrorshow against FC Dallas that saw the team go 3-0 down, conceding all three goals within a 20-minute span before rallying from behind and sealing a late 3-3 draw with a last-gasp equalizer deep into injury time. It was the first time the team had conceded as much as three goals in consecutive games this season.
Nevertheless, the results have managed to keep coming for RSL, albeit in often nervy situations, especially on the road where the team has picked up just two wins in its last six away games stretching back all the way to April. No doubt this will be one of the first things on the agenda for Pablo and his coaching staff to rectify ahead of another set of grueling fixtures.
Remember, as explained by the great Sir Alex Fegurson “attack wins you games, but defense wins you titles” and if Real Salt Lake wishes to maintain its push for glory come the end of the season, maintaining an impenetrable defensive foundation has to remain a priority.
- Chicho, Chicho, and Chicho again. RSL’s captain and flag bearer will be the centerpiece to Pablo’s plans on the road and crucial to the team getting the most out of its next set of games. Andrés Gómez will also be another important piece.
Cristian Daniel Arango - Captain, Leader, Flagbearer. Los Cafeteros’ brightest, and Salt Lake City’s finest. A genuine superstar.
“Oh Chicho Arango…” reverberated throughout the grounds in the aftermath of RSL’s most recent game against Austin as fans chorused in unison, praising the RSL captain. The 28-year-old delivered yet another virtuoso performance with a stunning hat trick in the Claret-and-Cobalt’s 5-1 victory over its Western Conference foes.
There comes a point in entertainment and competitive sports where all you can do is watch, witness and acknowledge greatness, and with Chicho Arango, it is safe to say that we are now well past that point.
Chicho’s hat trick in his last game earned him sole possession of the MLS Golden Boot lead with 16 goals, three more than his closest competitor (C. Benteke, DC, 13). It also made him the second of 210 all-time RSL players to score multiple career hat tricks (2 in 35 MLS games), joining Alvaro Saborio, who scored three in 127 regular season games.
As if all that wasn’t already enough, his goalscoring exploits against Austin also meant Chicho became just the third-fastest MLS player to reach 25 goals and assists in a season, this year with only 17 games played. His 16 goals this season also leave him just one shy of Saborio’s all-time Club-high of 17, set back in 2012, meaning he needs just one more goal to tie the all-time record, and two more to break and claim sole possession of it with half the season left to play. Chicho also needs just one assist to become just the third-ever RSL player with a 10g/10a campaign, joining Jeff Cunningham (2006) and Albert Rusnák (2021).
Indeed, it has been a record-setting campaign for the RSL Captain, who has consistently this season demonstrated his talent, leadership, and commitment to the Claret-and-Cobalt cause.
The 28-year-old’s form as well as his attacking chemistry with fellow Colombian Andrés Gómez will no doubt be pivotal for Pablo and his men if they are to stand strong in their next set of fixtures.
21-year-old Andrés Gómez will be another player Pablo will be relying on as RSL go into its next set of games. The young attacker has emerged this season as one of the best and most exciting prodigies in the league, striking a fearsome partnership going forward with Chicho, evidenced by his eight goals and six assists in 16 appearances this season. Gómez is just the third player in the 29-year history of MLS under the age of 22 to deliver as many as six consecutive games with a goal contribution, a feat accomplished with his assist June 1 against Austin.
Chicho and Gómez have consistently proven to be two of the most exciting players and talents in the country this season, and RSL will need their Colombian magicians in top form going into this grueling title examination.
- Anderson Julio - the surprise man in form.
28-year-old Anderson Julio is another RSL attacker who’s shone brightly for the Claret-and-Cobalt this season, in a campaign rich with stellar attacking performances. Starting out the season as a “super-sub” the Ecuadorian striker has continued to stake his claim for a starting berth with outstanding performances including a crucial goal and game-tying assist against FC Dallas and a brace against Austin in what was only his fourth start of the season.
Julio’s brace last time out represented the player’s fourth goal and fifth goal contribution in RSL’s last four games, and his fifth goal in total this season in 16 appearances. His goal scoring feats against Austin also represented his first brace since April 2021 in his first-ever game for the Club against Minnesota United.
Much like Gómez, Julio has also managed to strike up an impressive partnership and chemistry with Chicho Arango this season as he continues his push for a starting spot alongside his South American compatriots, and will no doubt be another key piece for Pablo in the upcoming set of fixtures.
- Home advantage will be key against LA Galaxy, Houston Dynamo and Atlanta United.
Following road games against Montreal and Sporting Kansas City, Pablo’s men will then return home to America First Field for crucial clashes against LA Galaxy, Houston Dynamo and Atlanta United, where home form and advantage promises to be a deciding factor.
RSL’s surge to the top of the MLS Western Conference standings has also been built on the back of a strong home base at America First Field which has proven to be a fortress this season. The team currently boasts a 6-1-1 home record as well as an average of 2.5 goals scored and 58 percent possession in each of its home games this season, making for one of the best home marks in the division.
Much of this owes credit to the consistent, unwavering loyalty and support shown by its fans that help spur the team forward and onto greater previously unaccomplished heights with new previously long standing records seemingly now being broken at every new home game.
With the Galaxy, Dynamo and United representing traditional MLS powers looking to threaten RSL’s top spot, the home advantage of America First Field will be another crucial factor for the team in mounting a successful springboard that will stand the test of the remainder of the season.
Enjoy the continued magic of RSL’s 2024 season starting Saturday, with a 5:30 pm MT kickoff at Montreal on MLS Season Pass / Apple TV+
