Real Salt Lake has a history of playing some of its best soccer on Pioneer Day, as the club has outscored visitors 23-10 in 10 previous games on the holiday. Friday, the trend continued. If Real Salt Lake played one of its better games the last time Kansas City visited Rio Tinto Stadium, Friday night's clash may have topped it.
With tremendous attacking play by Javier Morales (34-minute goal), Joao Plata (74-minute goal) and Sebastian Jaime, and excellent defending from the rising Chris Maund, Elias Vasquez and a very special performance from outside back Abdoulie Mansally, the Claret and Cobalt earned three much needed points against Western Conference foe Sporting Kansas City.
Here are the player grades:
Jeff Attinella (GK), 10, combined some very good saves Friday night with an excellent showing from his back line to keep Kansas City from doing anything more than a goal's worth of damage — a goal Attinella had no chance at. His 65th minute save against Kansas City's streaking striker Jacob Peterson was his best, and most certainly worth an Internet search. As was his 68th minute hit on Dom Dwyer while you're at it, as well as his other save from near point-blank on Jacob Peterson in the 75th minute. Man of the Match.
Aaron Maund (DEF), 10, played another superb game Friday night. He combined well with Elias Vasquez to shut down one of Major League Soccer's most dangerous strikers in Dom Dwyer. He was also one of RSL's strongest defenders in the air at midfield, bringing down a number of tough balls on goal kicks.
Elias Vasquez (DEF), 10, played his first game since returning from Gold Cup duty with his national team (Guatemala). Vasquez brought his spirited attitude and no-nonsense field generalship to go alongside a much improved, and still rising, Aaron Maund.
Tony Beltran (DEF), 8, wasn't flashy Friday night, he put in a blue-collar effort that at times felt a bit pedestrian, but in the final analysis, Beltran did job No. 1 well — he defended with tenacity. His offensive runs up the wing have been better.
Abdoulie Mansally (DEF), 10, played as well as he's played in an RSL uniform Friday night. His ninth-minute sprint to close down a free-running Dom Dwyer in the box before he got a shot at goal was special.
Luke Mulholland (MID), 7, was everywhere. Defensively, he was having a very good game until moments into the second half he failed to close down Kansas City's Benny Feilhaber. The mistake might get some sympathy since he was 35 plus yards from the box, but Feilhaber used the space to send a tremendous curling shot away from Jeff Attinella and into the far-post upper 90. It was Mulholland's only major gaffe, but it nearly cost RSL at least two points.
Javier Morales (MID), 10, continues to show that his best years are not in the past. Defensively, he was excellent, especially near the center stripe where the entire midfield, along with the excellent back-tracking of Devon Sandoval, disrupted Kansas City's flow immensely. But it was his passing into the attack that had fans in total awe most of the night. And his 34th-minute golazo was reminiscent of his countrymen Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi as he slalomed through three defenders and calmly slotted the goal past charging Kansas City ’keeper Tim Meilia.
Luis Gil (MID), 9, has struggled to find much of a rhythm in his last several starts. Jordan Allen had been given the opportunity to show his stuff the last couple of games and did very well before going out with a hamstring injury in RSL's match against Houston last Saturday. Gil made the best of the moment. He was sharp, he was creative, and his decisions on the ball reminded fans of the potential that hasn't shown up in a frustrating season for the national team prospect.
Sebastian Jaime (FWD), 9, might not have added to his five-goal streak in the last seven games Friday night after sitting out with a red card earned against Colorado, but he did well to combine with Joao Plata, Javier Morales and Luis Gil to put on one of the club's finest attacking shows of the season. Jaime was in a great rhythm, especially with balls being served over the top, and was terrific in the 1-2 linking game around the box.
Devon Sandoval (FWD), 8, was best when defending Friday night. He drew the task of tracking back into the midfield to provide additional coverage in the midfield. He had two excellent opportunities to score, but while Sandoval has made excellent progress, he continues to need refinement in finishing off scoring opportunities.
Joao Plata (FWD), 10, was exciting, creative and dangerous Friday night. In other words; he's back. The Ecuadorean striker terrorized Kansas City's excellent back line all night, feinting and parrying his way through defenders to create some of the most exciting attacking soccer RSL has put up this season. Plata got the honor of taking the penalty kick in the 73rd minute for his efforts. Plata pinned a screamer centimeters inside the left post to give Real the game-winner.
Olmes Garcia (FWD, SUB 61'), 8, came on for Devon Sandoval seconds after the big striker pinged one off the bar. He didn't have quite the same defensive impact as Sandoval, but he was more dangerous creating scoring opportunities, even if the final product left something to be a bit desired. His 71st-minute run into the box was anything but disappointing as he did well to get around his defender and make a run at the goalie who was forced to take him down to keep Garcia from getting a potentially scoreable shot off. The takedown earned Kansas City goalie Tim Melia a yellow card and set up Joao Plata's game-winning penalty kick.
John Stertzer (MID, SUB 87'), 8, came on for Luis Gil to add some defensive stiffness to the midfield in hopes of closing out the win. His seven plus minutes on the field (including stoppage time) were eventful as things got pretty chippy. Stertzer did well to keep things level-headed in the midfield so Kansas City had virtually no chance at breaking through to challenge for an equalizer in the final minutes.
Chris Higbee writes the Real Salt Lake player report card for Deseret News at all home games.