SANDY, Utah (ABC4 Sports) – It was the best start to a season in Real Salt Lake history.
RSL hasn’t lost an MLS game since March 9 and has lost 10 straight games. The historic start came with a heated comeback win over arch rival Colorado last Saturday, when Real Salt Lake scored an 85th-minute tying goal and an 88th-minute winner to seal the most exciting regular-season win in the club’s history.
“I think it was the first time,” midfielder Diego Luna said of the excitement of the win. “The atmosphere was just unreal. I think the 12th man’s words are definitely what we think when something like that happens. A packed crowd, everyone. It was all standing and making a fuss.”
Real Salt Lake defeats Colorado 5-3 in shootout
All of MLS is talking about Real Salt Lake, a team that has scored the most goals in the Western Conference (27) and tied for the fewest conceded (14). Chicho Arango leads the league in goals with 13, just four shy of tying Alvaro Saborio’s club record.
Real Salt Lake achieved half of its team record for most wins in 16 seasons. But coach Pablo Mastroeni’s current challenge is to keep his team calm.
“I think in the world of social media, it’s easy to get lost,” Mastroeni said. “I think it’s easy when people are singing your praises. When ego starts to take over, we need humility. When people start talking about you, you lose sight of what got you to this moment.”
This may be why RSL got off to a slow start against Colorado, allowing the Rapids two goals in the first half.
“I think we started out slow, we all know that,” Luna said. “I think stuff like that happens. But that mentality of just coming back and continuing to work hard, no matter what the score is, is what makes us No. 1 for doing stuff like that.”
Real Salt Lake continues to perform well, shutting out Seattle 2-0
Real Salt Lake, on a 10-game losing streak (7 wins, 0 losses, 3 draws) in MLS, will play away to FC Dallas on Saturday, but they now know that every team will be targeting them. know.
“We don’t really think about streaks or anything like that,” Luna said. “I think we’re going to keep winning. We’ve got the feel, we’ve got the momentum, and no matter what happens, you just keep working, keep being us and keep playing. Then things will take care of. It will go our way.”
“Everyone we play against will be a great opponent,” added Mastroeni. “But I think if we can play to our standards, we can find our way in every game.”
Real Salt Lake next plays at FC Dallas on Saturday night in Montana at 6:30 pm.
