Brooks Lennon won’t have trouble remembering his first goal for Real Salt Lake – a late game-winner in the Rocky Mountain Cup derby against the Colorado Rapids earlier this year. And while that and bold strike was unforgettable for the 19-year-old winger, he added another memorable moment this season when he scored in the U-20 World Cup.
“The experience was unbelievable – definitely one that I’ll never forget,” Lennon said upon his return from the World Cup this week. “I was really proud to score my first goal in a World Cup. As a kid, you dream to do something like that. When I scored … I just had the chills. It was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Lennon as among four current Real Salt Lake players and five from the RSL Academy that contributed to the success for the U.S. at the World Cup in South Korea. Along with Danny Acosta, Justen Glad and Sebastian Saucedo with RSL and Aaron Herrera, who is currently at the University of New Mexico, Lennon represented the club and its academy well.
And while those five have plenty of international experience among the group, putting the U.S. jersey on at a World Cup meant something different.
“It’s a feeling that I can’t really describe. Having your name on the back of a jersey, especially the U.S. jersey, is a really great feeling,” Lennon said. “You want to represent your country as best as possible, with pride and dignity. It’s such an amazing moment for me and my family. I think I represented my country well at the World Cup and I’m really happy with how everything went.”
Lennon would add another goal in a rout of New Zealand, finishing the tournament with two goals and three assists as the U.S. went unbeaten in the Group Stage and advanced to the Quarterfinal Round, going 2-1-2 in the process.
With that on the heels of a standout performance in the CONCACAF U-20 Championships back in March and his continued growth on the club level that had him scoring one goal in eight matches for RSL, he is ready to take his game to the next level as he narrows his focus to club play.
After a 43-day absence from MLS action, Lennon will return to Rio Tinto Stadium on Saturday when RSL hosts Minnesota United with a new level of confidence.
“The biggest thing I took away from the tournament was the confidence coming back to my club. I think the experiences over there playing against guys that are the best in the world your age will give you the confidence that you can come back here and play against anyone,” he said. “It’s all about confidence now and I think all four of us will bring it back and I think it’s started in practice so we just need to keep moving forward.”
Kickoff in Saturday’s match is scheduled for 8 p.m. MT.
