When Yura Movsisyan arrived in Salt Lake City for his return to Real Salt Lake, he came with promises of goals. On Friday in a 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids, he scored a brace to power RSL to second in the Western Conference and to lift the Rocky Mountain Cup. The second goal in that double won MLS Goal of the Week honors as he took a pass on the top of the 18, moved to his favored right foot, but was met by two defenders so he cut back to his left and put a perfectly placed shot just out of reach of Tim Howard for the decisive goal.
That goal was an exclamation point for RSL and a microcosm of the special ability Movsisyan has brought to the field and continues to bring to the locker room. It’s a swagger that is more often backed up than not and has helped propel Salt Lake not just to the top tier in MLS, but the belief that more can be accomplished.
“It’s been fantastic the way he’s come back. The leadership, the role that he’s taken on and the way he’s combined,” Real Salt Lake General Manager Craig Waibel said on ESPN 700’s O’Connell and Swinney Show. “Then, obviously, this is a guy who can do special things.”
He’s been doing those special things all season to the tune of nine goals and two assists, to lead RSL’s golden boot race in a potent forward trio of Movsisyan, Joao Plata (seven goals and 10 assists) and Juan Manuel Martinez (six goals and three assists). He has made good on brazen promises he made at his introductory press conference to score goals, but the residual effect of his play has placed RSL fourth in the West in scoring, already surpassing last season’s goal total with still seven matches on the schedule.
That sort of confidence is distinctive to goalscorers and Movsisyan has it in bunches.
“It’s pretty unique. A goalscorer has a mindset that is unlike everyone else’s. They ignore statistics. They ignore reality, which is that soccer is a low-scoring game, you’re not supposed to be able to do it and the reason they are good is because they ignore it. They make promises like Yura did at the beginning of the year, that he’s going to score goals,” Waibel said. “With seven games left, I think there are still some good opportunities to improve on the total he’s got. He’s also made other guys better. His presence occupying center backs opens up opportunities for other guys and I think there have been a lot of goals scored around him that have come off of his play.”
Movsisyan’s has been one of the league’s top acquisitions this season and as RSL strives for the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup, his play continues to be vital.
To hear Waibel’s full interview, click here.
