SANDY — While Saturday night's game against the Houston Dynamo wasn't a must-win contest for Real Salt Lake, it was pretty darn close.
RSL sat a point behind Houston in the Western Conference standings, and if the Claret and Cobalt intend to start a run at the playoffs, Saturday had to produce three points.
Javier Morales started things off as planned with a goal in the 36th minute, then assisted Joao Plata on his 65th-minute goal to give RSL the 2-0 lead. Houston's Kofi Sarkodie was ejected for a heavy tackle on Abdoulie Mansally midway through the second half, and Jeff Attinella was money in the box as he held on to the clean sheet to earn RSL the much-needed win and some momentum coming out of its toughest scheduling stint of the season.
Here are the player grades:
Jeff Attinella (GK), 9, once again he had a stellar game. He was rock-solid defensively and showed some arm strength a number of times as he tossed the ball to midfield, hitting Morales in stride to create some of the game's best fast breaks. Attinella did well, especially in the second half when a hungry and determined 10-man Houston squad created more chances than it had all game long.
Aaron Maund (DEF), 9, in his stint filling in for injured starters has been the best thing to happen to him since he joined Real Salt Lake. Initially, he struggled with positioning, field awareness and decisions on the ball, but he has grown leaps and bounds. He's playing more of a leadership role on the back line and his athletic ability, which was never been in question, is finally able to show through. This came in handy Saturday night against Houston with its 4-5-1 formation and late midfield runners coming from nowhere. Maund kept lone striker Will Bruin in line all night while doing very well to match up with late runners when needed.
Justen Glad (DEF), 8, had an excellent game, particularly having to deal with Brad Davis playing a high midfield role, ghosting just behind Houston's striker Will Bruin. Glad's positioning flagged a bit in the second half as Houston got more chances at goal, but all in all, Glad filled in well for a resting Chris Schuler, who is still not 100 percent coming off a knee-injury rehab. His near header goal in the 24th minute would have made for a memorable first on the night and on the season for the rookie.
Tony Beltran (DEF), 8, received some great news Saturday when he was named to the MLS All-Star squad. The veteran right back didn't seem to let it get to his head though, as he played typically well. He didn't show quite the flash offensively he showed in the Los Angeles game Tuesday, but Houston's formation gave him reason to sit back a bit more in a defensive posture where he did well to disrupt connecting play through the midfield.
Abdoulie Mansally (DEF), 9, played a smart and savvy veteran game. He used his athleticism to keep Houston's attackers down the right side from doing much. He was particularly solid offensively, sending in several very good crosses from the flanks and even winning a 50th-minute ball just outside the box with his speed and touch that a clearly frustrated Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie misjudged and came in late and heavy on Mansally to earn a red card.
Luke Mulholland (MID), 8, played an almost exclusively defensive game as he settled into a central defensive mid position to create a sort of 4-1-2-3 formation for RSL. His lack of dynamics made things a bit stagnant at times, especially in the second half when RSL had a man advantage. But Mulholland continues to do the dirty work RSL usually looks to Kyle Beckerman to handle.
Javier Morales (MID), 10, didn't start the scoring off quite as quickly as he did last year when RSL met Houston in Houston, where he scored the quickest goal in RSL history just 15 seconds into the game. But his effort to push the attack all throughout the first half finally paid off in the 36th minute when Jordan Allen won back a ball RSL had just given away from 40 yards out and got it to Morales by way of Joao Plata. The Argentine Maestro took a touch then drilled it far post on the volley from the outside of his right foot. Besides the opening goal, Morales assisted on Plata's 65th-minute goal to take RSL to 2-0 on the night. Man of the Match.
Jordan Allen (MID), 9, once again had the kind of game that must continue to earn him playing time. Defensively he was solid. His takeaway in the 36th minute created the opportunity for Morales' goal. And offensively, he provides an additional level of fluidity in the passing game due to very good field vision and positioning, but also due to some excellent foot skills. His skill was the reason RSL maintained position just prior to Plata's second goal. And while he did flag a bit in the second half, and his youth showed a couple of times in scoring situations, the young rookie can be pretty darn entertaining to watch take a go at defenders.
Olmes Garcia (FWD), 7, was energetic as ever, doing well to chase some long balls to the touch line and send them back into dangerous locations, but he just never seemed to be able to locate either his hopeful assisting passes or the occasional shot.
Devon Sandoval (FWD), 7, struggled in his post-up play and facing the goal. He seemed hampered by Houston's big center backs and just never got into a healthy rhythm. He was still quite good defensively. Tracking back and using his big body to disrupt things enough to keep Houston from getting into a rhythm of its own out of the backfield.
Joao Plata (FWD), 9, was back to his old ways. He made terrific runs into and across the box and provided the dynamism RSL needed against Houston's strong backline. And he did well to get balls from wide positions into the box in attempts to hook up with Sandoval and Garcia. But it was his 65th-minute give-and-go with Morales inside a crowded 18-yard box that earned him RSL's second goal on the night.
Luis Gil (SUB 72', MID), 7, came on for Garcia, shifting back into the midfield as Allen moved up into the striker spot vacated by Garcia. Gil showed energy and grit that has been lacking at times for the promising midfielder this season. Telling was a moment Gil lost the ball in the midfield and tracked all the way back to near the end line to win it back from Houston's Brad Davis. RSL fans will surely hope for more of this in the future from Gil.
John Stertzer (SUB 84', MID), 7, came on for Allen to sit back with Mulholland and then 'Pecka' to protect the midfield. Stertzer had mixed results the few minutes he played. He was solid in Houston's half but uncharacteristically struggled in his own half.
Wellington Paeckart (SUB 88', MID), came on for Mulholland. Did not play enough to earn a grade.
Chris Higbee writes the player report card for the Deseret News for all home RSL games. follow him on Twitter @chigbee.