March 2016 in Review
RSL March record: 1-0-2 (1-0-3)
RSL season record: 1-0-2 (1-1-3 overall)
Results: CCL vs. Tigres 1-1; @ Orlando City SC 2-2; vs. Seattle Sounders FC 2-1; @ Portland Timbers 2-2
The 2016 season got started in explosive fashion with RSL taking on Tigres in CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals and if there is one thing that can be said about the first matches in RSL’s season, it’s that they’ve never lacked for excitement. Against Tigres, RSL shifted to a 3-4-3 formation late in the second leg while just a goal down in the series, but the Mexican powerhouse was able to take advantage of the weakened defense and scored a last-minute goal to put the series out of reach. Like that series, every MLS match has been a dramatic event, with a different hero each week.
Top Performer: Joao Plata had a hand in all but one RSL goal, finishing with four goals and two assists across all competitions and earned the Etihad Airways MLS Player of the Month with three goals and two assists in league play to lead RSL to an unbeaten record through three matches. His current form is reminiscent of his team MVP performances in 2014, prior to a fractured foot slowing his 2015 campaign. Now back in rhythm, he’s scoring goals and assisting as well as he has in any stretch in his career with no signs of slowing down.
Unsung Hero: Sunday Stephen has quickly proven to be a midfield destroyer alongside Kyle Beckerman in the center of the park, freeing Beckerman up at times and bolstering RSL’s defense at the same time. That he scored a goal in a 2-1 win over Seattle in the home opener only strengthens his legend in his first MLS season.
By The Numbers: 11 … as in RSL Head Coach Jeff Cassar is unbeaten in 11 career matches in the month of March. After rolling to a 12-match unbeaten streak to open his coaching career in 2014 that included a 2-0-2 start to the season, he also went 1-0-2 to start the 2015 season. Add in a 1-0-2 start to the MLS season and an additional draw in Champions League and Cassar is 4-0-7 all-time in March.
Up Next: In the month of April, RSL has a slew of Western Conference meetings with two at home sandwiched between two road contests. The month starts against rival Kansas City on Saturday, then RSL hosts the Colorado Rapids in the first match of the Rocky Mountain Cup and Vancouver Whitecaps FC before closing out the month on the road against the LA Galaxy.
