May 2016 in Review
RSL May record: 1-3-0
RSL season record: 6-4-2 (6-5-3 overall)
Results: @ Colorado Rapids 0-1; @ Houston Dynamo 0-1; @ Sporting Kansas City 3-1; @ Columbus Crew SC 3-4.
The 1-3-0 record is not ideal to start a five-match stretch away from home, but the margins are close and Real Salt Lake has shown that when near 100-percent, as the club was against Sporting Kansas City, it is a force to be reckoned with. There was plenty of adversity in May, as RSL had two matches delayed – one by 90 minutes and another until the following afternoon. Salt Lake is just 2-4-2 on the road. Through 12 matches, that also means RSL will have plenty of matches at Rio Tinto Stadium as the season progresses, starting with the return in regular season play on June 18 against the Portland Timbers.
Top Performer: Joao Plata finished the month with one goal and two assists in 290 minutes. While not at his torrid pace to open the season when he tallied four goals and four assists through the first six matches, he is clearly showing a resurgence in form after missing two matches to injury in April. He has only failed to notch a goal or an assist in one start thus far this season.
Unsung Hero: The name of the game is scoring for forwards, and while Devon Sandoval is still looking for his first goal of the season, his holdup play in the last two matches has been key for RSL. Against Sporting Kansas City, he played just 12 minutes, but was helpful in seeing out the 3-1 victory by keeping SKC defense honest while they were seeking out goals to get back in the game. Then on Saturday, he started in place of an ill Yura Movsisyan and was solid for 60 minutes in continuing that hold-up play in a losing effort against the Columbus Crew. In between, he scored the lone goal for the visiting Monarchs in a 3-1 loss to the Oklahoma City Energy while playing on loan with the USL club on Tuesday.
By The Numbers: 7-6. Despite posting a 1-3-0 record, RSL was outscored by just one goal in the up and down month. After starting the month with the first two scoreless matches of the season, RSL exploded for six goals in the final two matches of the month, getting goals from five different players while also adding the club’s first own goal.
Up Next: RSL is on the road this week to take on New York City FC at Yankee Stadium and will finish the month with a road contest against FC Dallas. In between, Real will host the Portland Timbers and New York Red Bulls and will also play host to either the Wilmington Hammerheads or Miami FC in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. With RSL’s perfect 4-0-0 record at home thus far this year in MLS play, the opportunity is ripe for RSL to start adding to its point total as soon as it is back from the upcoming Copa America break.