(Monday, May 20, 2024) – For the sixth consecutive matchday Real Salt Lake places at least one player – this week, Los Cafeteros **Chicho Arango** and Andrés Gómez – named to Major League Soccer’s “Team of the Matchday” for Matchday 15 of the 2024 season, following their combined fireworks (two goals, one assist each) in Saturday’s 5-3 comeback home Rocky Mountain Cup win over Colorado.
Colombian RSL Captain Arango is an oft-mentioned early-season MLS MVP candidate, one who has now amassed 21 goal contributions on RSL’s 27 goals this season. Arango’s career totals include 112 goals as a professional, including 56 goals in 89 games across all competitions since arriving in MLS for LAFC and RSL. Since appearing on the Wasatch Front last July, Chicho boasts 21 goals and 10 assists in 32 MLS appearances for the Claret-and-Cobalt, with those numbers increasing to 23 goals and 12 assists in 37 RSL games across all competitions (incl. Leagues Cup, Open Cup, Playoffs).
Gómez has quickly earned worldwide plaudits for his second-year MLS explosion, the young attacker amassing 7 goals and adding four assists this season, leading RSL in game-winning goals with three (March 2 v LAFC, April 20 at CHI, and Sat v COL).
With the win – which gave RSL seven of a possible nine points in eight days, with the draw at LA Galaxy and the midweek win over SEA – the Claret-and-Cobalt improves to 5-1-1 on Utah soil this season, as Saturday’s match marked the third of just four home games played from mid-April to late June. RSL’s active unbeaten run is now extended to 10 games, the Claret-and-Cobalt exacting revenge for its lone home loss, back on March 9 against Colorado.
First-place RSL (8-2-4, 24 points, 1st West) will return home in two weeks on Saturday, June 1 against Austin FC, following a very busy six-game May that concludes with the upcoming two-game road trip this Saturday, May 25 at Dallas and next Wednesday, May 28 at Seattle.
Recent weeks have also seen RSL MF Diego Luna (Matchday 15), DF Bryan Vera (Matchday 12), Alex Katranis (Matchdays 10 and 11) and Captain Chicho Arango (Matchdays 10 and 14) honored for their stellar performances, while RSL has also previously seen both Andrés Gómez (Matchday 3) and teenage attacker Fidel Barajas (Matchday 5) honored in the League’s weekly selection; Gómez following his two-goal, one-assist March 2 home performance in a 3-0 win against LAFC, and Barajas for his March 23 efforts at Vancouver, assisting on both goals in a 2-1 comeback win.
