April 2015 in Review
RSL April record: 1-2-1
RSL season record: 2-2-3
Results: @San Jose Earthquakes, 1-0; @ Sporting Kansas City, 0-0; vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, 0-1; @ New England Revolution, 0-4.
A look at Real Salt Lake’s performance in the month of April begs for perspective. For three matches, the team was steadfast in its defending, holding the opposition to just one goal in those contests. However, RSL was able to muster just one goal themselves. That included a 1-0 victory at Avaya Stadium in just the second match there for the San Jose Earthquakes and a scoreless draw at Sporting Park against a Sporting Kansas City side that doesn’t concede many points at home. Then a short-handed 1-0 home defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps FC after RSL was issued two red cards led to another tough result in a 4-0 loss to the New England Revolution. In that match, the team was crushed by injuries, suspensions and international call-ups. Even after that difficult end to the month, RSL is still fifth in the Western Conference at 1.29 points per match and with a busy month of May ahead with seven matches starting on Friday against the San Jose Earthquakes, there is an opportunity to collect points that awaits the Claret and Cobalt.
Top Performer: Defensively, RSL was as stout as could be over the first three matches of the month and much of the credit for that belongs with Kyle Beckerman. The captain was the leader in the locker room and on the field that kept RSL earning points even while the offense struggled to find goals.
Unsung Hero: Elias Vasquez made his MLS debut on short notice when he replaced an injured Chris Schuler in a big test against Sporting Kansas City. The 22-year-old defender helped RSL earn the shutout in that match, then followed it up with another standout performance against Vancouver one week later when he was inserted into the starting lineup just 20 minutes before kickoff. In those two matches, RSL allowed just two shots on goal total in no small part due to the play of Vasquez. Those efforts aren’t diminished by the 4-0 loss to New England, as RSL learned they have a highly capable center back in Vasquez.
By the Numbers: Head Coach Jeff Cassar used 20 different players, 17 different starters and a different back four in all four matches this month. Only Tony Beltran, Kyle Beckerman, Luke Mulholland, Olmes Garcia and Alvaro Saborio started all four matches. … Pecka made his first appearance in an RSL uniform against New England. … New England’s first-half goal ended a 309-minute road shutout streak. … The loss to New England was Cassar’s first ever against an Eastern Conference opponent. He was 7-0-5 against the East entering the match.
Up Next: RSL will host three of the seven matches it plays in May, starting Friday against the San Jose Earthquakes. The Claret-and-Cobalt will also host the LA Galaxy on May 6 and NYCFC on May 23, while playing road matches against the Chicago Fire (May 9), Montreal Impact (May 16), LA Galaxy (May 27) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC (May 30).
