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Tom’s Takes: New York Red Bulls vs. Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake needed points and they got them. A 1-0 victory over the Red Bulls a week after RSL got drummed 5-1 by LAFC has the team back on track. Albert Rusnak put the home side up 4 minutes into the contest after VAR went in favor of RSL (!!!) as they deemed a foul that was initially called outside the box was in fact, a penalty.

Here are my takes:

Run, run, run:

RSL looked like a different team against the NYRB compared to when they played LAFC a week earlier and a big reason for that was the effort. The midfield ran back in defense to help the back four to keep its shape. I thought Demir Kreilach and Brooks-Lennon had their best games of the season, Brooks-Lennon started at Right Back after Shawn Barry went down a week ago with a hamstring strain and did a fantastic job getting up and down the wing while Kreliach finally looked like the dominant figure that he is, controlling that midfield with ease and feeding the speedsters into space with his touch and control.

More goals, please?

Fans after the game were calling into the post-game show and hitting us up on twitter (@TomCantHackett) frustrated with the lack of chances the attacking players are creating and they may well have a point. However, we are 3 games into the MLS season with a ton of new faces (Ortuno started at ST while Bofo started at LW against NYRB) who will take time to get adjusted to the Mike Petke system. Ortuno for example, was quite against the Red Bulls but he did show glimpses of stardom with his touch and style. Relax RSL nation, the goals will come. Football is a patient game that takes players and teams time to start playing there best football, it would be foolish of you to think that RSL would come out with all guns blazing this season.

International break:

This weekend there will be no football at the club level. Unfortunately, FIFA has scheduled an international friendly weekend taking no consideration into the fact the MLS season just started…(I am grumpy about this). But when you look at the injury report for RSL the break has come at a good time. Marcelo Silva (hamstring), Joao Plata (hamstring) and Shawn Barry (hamstring) will all hopefully be able to return to the pitch for RSL against Toronto FC come March 30th.

Until then, so long folks! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.

 

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