SANDY, Utah (Thursday, September 28, 2017) – Real Salt Lake MF Albert Rusnák, FW Joao Plata and FW Jefferson Savarino have been called in by their respective national teams for 2018 World Cup Qualifying matches starting next week. All three players will remain with RSL through the Western Conference clash with the LA Galaxy on Saturday.
“All three are young players and it’s very rare in that scenario where the spotlight is shared. More times than not one player in a group like that will get overlooked, so it’s a credit to all three of them individually and as a group,” RSL General Manager Craig Waibel said. “With all three of their national teams recognizing that, it’s a testament to what they have done together and we are extremely proud that they will have the opportunities to represent their countries in World Cup qualifiers.”
Rusnák, 23, has five caps for Slovakia after coming off the bench last month in World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and England and featured prominently in his country’s strong showing in the 2017 UEFA U-21 Championships earlier this year. The first-year midfielder currently leads RSL’s Golden Boot race with seven goals and 13 assists in 27 matches this season. His 13 assists rank fifth in MLS and are just two behind RSL’s single-season record of 15 set by Javier Morales in 2008.
Slovakia plays Scotland on the road on October 5 before hosting Malta in the final match of UEFA’s Group Stage in World Cup qualifying. Slovakia is currently second in the group at 5-3-0 (15 points), trailing only England (6-0-2, 20 points). Slovenia and Scotland are both tied for third in the group at 4-2-2 (14 points). The top finisher will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, while the second-place finisher will have a chance to advance to the second round of qualification.
“Since coming to RSL, Albert has become a prominent figure for us and for his national team,” Waibel said. “He has been such an important player for us and when he goes to play with Slovakia he’s been consistent for them. Whether it was with the U-21s in the summer or with the full national team, it’s been fun to watch his transition.”
Plata, 25, has seven goals and five assists this season to give him 33 goals and 35 assists in 130 matches since joining the club in 2013. He last appeared for Ecuador in October of 2014 when he scored two goals in a 5-1 friendly win over El Salvador.
Ecuador is currently eighth in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying at 6-8-2 (20 points) and four points behind Peru and Chile in fourth and fifth, respectively. The top four teams qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with the fifth team advancing to an international playoff. Ecuador will face Chile on October 5 and Argentina at home on October 10.
“One of the hardest things in soccer is to get called in to your national team. It’s even harder to regain the attention and respect of your team after you’ve been out,” Waibel said. “It’s a credit to his perseverance, growth and professionalism that he is back with Ecuador. What he does for us can easily get overlooked, but he works 1v1 against his opponents and that creates opportunities and space for his teammates to operate.”
Savarino, 20, made his international debut on June 3 in a friendly against the U.S. National Team at Rio Tinto Stadium. Since joining RSL in May, he has six goals and five assists in 20 matches, including two goals and two assists in his last three appearances. RSL is 10-5-3 with the dynamic winger in the starting lineup.
Venezuela will host Uruguay on October 5 and then head to face Paraguay on October 10. Venezuela has been eliminated from 2018 World Cup contention at 1-10-5 (8 points) with two matches remaining in the CONMEBOL tournament.
“We are really proud of Jefferson for a lot of reasons. It took a lot of courage for him to come play for us and that he earned his third call-up is a compliment to the work that he has put in,” Waibel said. “At 20 years old he has made an impact for us and accepted the load that we have put on him.”
Real Salt Lake’s attacking trio is scheduled to return to Real Salt Lake prior to RSL’s match against the Colorado Rapids on October 15.
