We continue our march to the opening of the 2017 MLS season on March 4 at Rio Tinto Stadium when Real Salt Lake hosts Toronto FC with a look at 10 reasons to join us at the RioT. Today, we look at one of the bright young talents in Major League Soccer – Jordan Allen.
When Allen first came to RSL’s first team, it was with high hopes as the 18-year-old had a stellar season at Virginia and was a rising talent with the RSL Academy in Casa Grande, Arizona. He quickly earned the faith of Head Coach Jeff Cassar, but just two matches into his rookie season he suffered the first in a series of injuries that sidelined him for the rest of the 2014 season. Since then, he has four goals and four assists in 46 appearances, 22 of them starts, for RSL.
What makes those numbers even more impressive for the now-21-year-old Allen is that they came while he was shuffled around the field, his versatility a means to get on the pitch in several different roles.
Now, with the opportunity to start in the right wing spot in an attack that also features Albert Rusnák (22 years old), Joao Plata (24 years old) and Yura Movsisyan (29 years old), he has a chance to have a breakout season in 2017.
If his preseason is any indication, he is ready to step into that role. With two goals and two drawn penalties, he was among the most consistent attacking threats for RSL in training camp. See him take off at Rio Tinto Stadium starting March 4 against Toronto FC.
