The last time Real Salt Lake newcomer Jack Stewart scored a Major League Soccer goal, he gave the Chicago Fire a game-winner against D.C. United.
The goal was scored last Oct. 30 in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series in the 10th minute; it was the Fire's first goal on the way to a 4-0 victory.
Salt Lake seems to have gotten Stewart just in time. With the league's best team coming to town for a Saturday match at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Real is going to need all the help it can get. Stewart made sure coach John Ellinger knew about his goal against United.
"Only on corners, only on set pieces, but that's how I score goals on D.C.," Stewart said.
Real Salt Lake acquired Stewart, a defender, from the Chicago Fire earlier this week in exchange for forward Ryan Johnson. It was a trade Salt Lake had been contemplating for weeks, but with Real's defense eroding away under an intense July schedule, team officials finally pulled the trigger on the deal.
As of Friday's practice session, Real had the same 18-man roster set for Saturday's game as they used Wednesday against Chivas. That means defenders Daniel Torres, Eddie Pope and Nelson Akwari are each unavailable for the game.
It's a situation that could have Stewart in the starting lineup against United. Real's starting back line, then, could consist of three second-year players and a rookie.
"If you are good enough, you are old enough," Ellinger said. "It's time for people to step up."
Pope, however, could be available, depending on how healthy his right foot is feeling Saturday morning. The national team defender has struggled with the foot injury for weeks, and Ellinger is not about to rush Pope back into action.
"We need to have him as close to 100 percent as possible," Ellinger said.
For his part, Stewart is making the most of his new situation, even though he has been living out of a hotel room this week.
"It's the first time I've ever been traded but it's a good feeling," Stewart said. "You're coming in here, and you are expected to help out. It's a good feeling for a professional player; you want to be on a team where you can help."
D.C. United, by far the best team in the league, will be a formidable challenge. United could lose each of their next six games and still be in first place in the Eastern Conference.
"They are an extremely effective team," Ellinger said. "They never have a feeling of doom or gloom over their season, they always find a way to get a result, so that tells you about the swagger they play with."
But Real have high hopes for the game.
"It's another team, similar to New England, to where if you get past their midfield, you have a chance to score goals," Ellinger said. "Their only loss was to [Colorado] at altitude, so maybe we can get the altitude to work for us here."
Peter Richins is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
