HERRIMAN — Corey Baird sure knows how to capitalize on an opportunity.
Slipping on the U.S. National Team jersey for the first time with the senior squad Sunday night, Baird got the start and recorded an assist to help lead the United States to a 3-0 win over Panama in a friendly in Glendale, Arizona.
“It’s a dream come true. It’s something as a kid you always think about,” Baird told U.S. Soccer after the match. “Throughout the night I had a lot of chances for the final ball, it didn’t always come off, but happy to get an assist, happy that one came off.”
Nobody in Utah is surprised that Baird had immediate success, it’s how the entire 2018 season unfolded.
With virtually no expectations going into his first MLS season in 2018, Baird forced his way onto the field by outperforming the underachieving Real Salt Lake forwards in front of him. He appeared in all but three regular season games, recording eight goals and five assists and was ultimately named the MLS Rookie of the Year.
That collective 2018 performance earned him a call up to the U.S. National Team’s first January camp under new coach Greg Berhalter.
Baird, a three-time NCAA champion at Stanford, once again seized the moment.
His performance with the national team over the past three weeks in Southern California earned him a spot in Berhalter’s starting line-up for Sunday’s match with Panama. Baird played 75 minutes and delivered the assist on Dorde Mihailovic’s opening goal in the 37th minute.
Real Salt Lake coach Mike Petke said he was extremely proud watching Baird on the field, but wasn’t surprised by the success.
Petke said he received a message from Berhalter during the camp, and that message indicated that Baird was performing very well.
“I think he showed a lot of the qualities that he showed last year that got him rookie of the year, that got him a number of goals and got him a call in,” said Petke.
The United States will continue to train this week before wrapping up the month-long camp on Feb. 2 at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California.
Baird will then join his Real Salt Lake teammates for MLS training camp as the club gears up for the 2019 season opener on Mar. 2 at Houston.
Petke fully expects Baird to return in great match shape and push for playing time along with Jefferson Savarino and Joao Plata.
RSL’s coach said Baird’s success in his second professional season all “comes down to Corey. Opportunities are given and they need to be taken.”
So far, Baird has demonstrated a knack for taking advantage of his opportunities.