One year after trudging through early-season rehab after breaking his foot on the first day of preseason in 2015, Real Salt Lake forward Joao Plata is standing tall through the first month of the 2016 season. With three goals and two assists through the first three matches for RSL, Plata is among four finalists for the Etihad Airways Player of the Month for March, joining four other contenders from around the league for the honor.
Against Orlando City SC in the season opener, Plata scored both goals in a 2-2 draw. He followed that up with assists on both goals in RSL’s 2-1 win over Seattle Sounders FC in the home opener the following week. Then last week against Portland he scored on a stellar free kick in another 2-2 draw.
To RSL Head Coach Jeff Cassar, he is the clear choice to take home the first Player of the Month award.
“He’s very deserving of it,” Cassar said. “He’s been instrumental for us in the attack. He’s been instrumental for us on set plays. And he’s doing a lot of work defensively.”
Plata has been the primary scoring threat for RSL thus far, with a hand in five of RSL’s first six goals in league play – and six of seven overall after he scored RSL’s only goal in the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinal Round meeting with Tigres.
Against Portland, Yura Movsisyan scored his first goal of the season. With RSL’s big off-season acquisition to bolster the attack now on the score sheet and just one assist thus far from Juan Manuel Martinez and Javier Morales, there is still more to come from a potentially explosive Real Salt Lake attack.
“This is just the beginning for Joao. For Juan. For Yura. For Olmes and Devon,” Cassar said. “Once they really start clicking and really start sharing the ball, they’re all going to get a piece of the pie. I’m really happy for him.”
Vote for Plata and read about the other candidates here.
