Over the club’s 14-year existence, many things have become synonymous with Real Salt Lake. From the Believe chant sung by 20,000 fans every home match at Rio Tinto Stadium to the plucky, “don’t count us out” attitude that led the team to the 2009 MLS Cup championship while reaching three other tournament finals in the four years that followed.
Another among those mainstays in the RSL psyche is that goalkeeper Nick Rimando will inevitably make ridiculous saves to keep his club in a match. He’d already done so in a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas in the season-opener and on Saturday during RSL’s first victory of the season against the New York Red Bulls, he retook his seat on the throne as the best goalkeeper in MLS with a series of acrobatic stops to earn his 138th career MLS shutout.
And while such saves have grown to be expected out of the 38-yeard-old Rimando, it doesn’t mean it goes unappreciated by his teammates or the hordes of fans.
“Nothing surprises me from this guy,” defender Justen Glad quipped. “I’ve seen it all from this guy. He’s a beast.”
Added Head Coach Mike Petke, “He came up huge for us at times but just go back and listen to what I’ve said and what everyone has said about him over the last 18 years. He came up huge for us.”
It was vintage stuff from Rimando, the type of play that has helped him win two MLS Cup titles – one with RSL in 2009 and the other with D.C. United in 2004. And while it left fans in the stands in amazement, cheering his name after each heroic stop, he was as casual as he’s always been when asked about his on-field exploits.
“It felt good. It felt good to get a clean sheet. A total team effort out there today,” Rimando said. “I think it was special to the group to get that after last week’s performance.”
His athletic footwork and deft reading of his opponents combined to keep New York – an explosive team that had yet to lose in five matches in MLS and CONCACAF Champions League play entering Saturday’s match – off the board. And while his age still climbs with each passing day, he shows no indication that it’s slowing him down on the field.
His approach has been consistent throughout his career and that has helped him maintain his sole focus on team goals.
“It’s always been one game at a time in my career. I don’t put a limit on how long I’m going to play or when I’m going to hang them up. You train during the week to perform on Saturdays, or when the games are and that’s what I focus on,” he said. “For me I want to win more cups and more championships. I don’t think it’s ever been about individual awards. But for me I came back, because I want to win championships. I want to win game and I’m not done yet and that’s what drives me.”
For his four-save performance and shutout, Rimando was named to the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week. For more on the weekly honor and the rest of the Team of the Week, click here.
MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week
Week 3: Nick Rimando
