Game at a Glance: RSL 3-0 VAN

Real Salt Lake 3 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0
April 8, 2017; Sandy, Utah; Rio Tinto Stadium
Real Salt Lake (1-3-2, 5 points); Vancouver Whitecaps FC (1-3-1, 4 points)

Man of the Match: When the temperatures and snowflakes fell at Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday, Albert Rusnák caught fire.  Through his first 405 minutes in MLS, the Slovakian midfielder had one assist to his credit while he adjusted to a new league with a new club and new teammates.  Over the final 45 minutes on Saturday, he scored his first MLS goal to stake RSL to a 1-0 lead in the 54^th minute, then added assists in the 74^th and 78^th minutes as Salt Lake snowplowed its way to a 3-0 victory.

Telling Stat: The three goals that RSL scored in the second half equaled the club’s total through the first 495 minutes this season.  Additionally, Rusnák’s three shots on goal matched the total of Vancouver’s entire team, as well as the other 13 field players that saw action for RSL on Saturday.

What You Missed: Thousands of fans stayed for the duration, stomping, clapping and singing as the players and coaches on both clubs scrambled to find ways to stay warm in the deluge.  That support wasn’t lost on the Claret-and-Cobalt.  Yura Movsisyan went out of his way to praise and thank the fans that created a dynamite atmosphere even in the rain and snow.  And there was this from RSL debutante Head Coach Mike Petke on Twitter after the match.

So What: One game is no reason to overreact one way or another, but there was a palpable difference in the energy on Saturday for RSL, who had gone winless through the first five matches.  Much of that can be attributed to the adrenaline of the first match under the watch of a new head coach, but there was an economy and purpose to the energy put out by the team on both sides of the ball.  While frenetic in their pursuit at times, there was little wasted energy.  To get that result with eight players out of action due to injury is all the more impressive.  As those eight return to the fold, competition will only increase in training, elevating the level on matchday.