July 2015 in Review
RSL July record: 2-1-1 (4-1-1 overall)
RSL season record: 7-7-8 (10-7-8 overall)
Results: Open Cup vs. Portland Timbers, 2-0; vs. Orlando City SC, 1-0; @ Colorado Rapids, 1-3; Open Cup vs. LA Galaxy, 1-0; vs. Houston Dynamo, 2-0; vs. Sporting Kansas City, 2-1.
There was just one momentary valley for Real Salt Lake in the month of July, and considering how much of the club’s chief lineup was out of action due to international duty and injuries, it was quite a successful month. Stars Nick Rimando and Kyle Beckerman missed the whole month while away with the U.S. National Team at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which also claimed defenders Demar Phillips and Elias Vasquez before they made early returns to the club and Alvaro Saborio until he was traded to D.C. United last week in exchange for Luis Silva. In addition to two wins in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup advancing RSL to the semifinal round, Salt Lake went 2-1-1 in league play, ending the month with two wins to jumpstart the summer momentum heading into another grueling month on the calendar.
Top Performer: Javier Morales had two goals and two assists in his three league matches to serve as the catalyst to RSL’s breakthrough to close out the month. He also added a goal in the Open Cup as RSL’s offense really started to click thanks in large part to the consistent and dynamic play of The Maestro. He barely beats out countryman Sebastian Jaime, who had three goals and one assist across all competitions.
Unsung Hero: At home, Jeff Attinella was nearly unbeatable in his five matches across all competitions. While the offense caught a rhythm, Attinella stepped in for All-Star and U.S. National Team goalkeeper Rimando and the team didn’t miss a beat. In five home matches, he allowed just two goals – one to Kaka and one on a blinder from Benny Feilhaber. Now with a 3-2-1 record on the season, Attinella is rewarding the faith and work of the RSL coaching staff. In all competitions, he is 6-2-1 on the season.
By The Numbers: Although it was a tumultuous month with the aforementioned international absences and additional injuries that sidelined Chris Schuler, Jamison Olave and Jordan Allen, six players started in all six matches for RSL, making it among the most consistent months of the season thus far for RSL.
Up Next: RSL’s players are breaking out their frequent flier cards for a busy month of August. It starts on August 1 against D.C. United at RFK Stadium, then proceeds to Guatemala City, Vancouver and Kansas City before returning home to face the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC on consecutive weekends. It will then close out the season with another road match against FC Dallas. With three matches against MLS playoff contenders, one against the top team in the Eastern Conference and crucial matches in CONCACAF Champions League and the U.S. Open Cup, it’s a critical month coming up for the Claret-and-Cobalt.
