Let’s begin today with a bit of good news: The RSL reserves side ran out against FC Dallas in Texas today and grabbed a 2-0 win, with Arturo Alvarez and new boy Chris Agorsor netting the goals in the fixture. Even better news than the win, though, is the presence of two once-crocked strikers in Paulo Jr. and Cody Arnoux, with the former picking up 30 minutes of play and the latter with 60 minutes.
Jason Kreis had previously said that they’d be playing in a reserves match before coming back into the full side, so this should soon lead to their return. Kyle Reynish has sufficiently recovered from concussion to make an appearance as well, which is nice — he’s a quality backup keeper, and I think he could go on quite well in his career.
A few academy players got a run out as well, which is encouraging in no small measure. I very much look forward to a day when academy players are hitting the first team on a regular basis, and I don’t think that day is particularly far off. We’ve been leading the way with youth academies in the U.S., and so long as we do so responsibly, I’m all for it. I’m talking no recruiting seven-year-old Argentine kids to come. (Yeah, that.)
Right, so on to the New York match for a few interesting statistical tidbits, then I’ll leave you be for a while. (Tomorrow, probably. Maybe sooner, should something exciting happen.)
- Despite generally controlling the match and having more shots on goal, Real Salt Lake only were in possession of the ball for 46 percent of the match to NYRB’s 54 percent.
- As a result of the possession difference, RSL completed fewer passes as well, with 402 from the Claret and Cobalt losing out to 478 from the Swissies.
- Kyle Beckerman grabbed his 6th and 7th assists of the season, putting him in the top 5 (albeit tied for that last spot) on the season. With a little less than half of the season to go, he’s well broken his previous career record for assists — five in his 2003 season with the Rapids.
- Saborio’s penalty took him to six goals on the season, where he is tied with Fabian Espindola for most league goals for RSL this season.
- Luis Gil grabbed his first MLS goal at the tender age of 17 (17 years, 265 days, to be precise.) It drops him in as the youngest league goalscorer for the club, with Freddy Adu’s first coming at 17 years, 352 days.
Vote for Luis Gil’s goal for MLS goal of the week, too, if you’ve not already — or if you have. Either way. Do it.
‘Till tomorrow. Up the RSL!
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