Real Salt Lake finally broke out of their scoring drought on Saturday afternoon thanks to the inspired play of rising star and US Under-20 international Jordan Allen.
RSL got the better of the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park, logging a 2-1 victory. Chicago got a late penalty kick from Jeff Larentowicz but it wasn’t enough to overcome earlier strikes from RSL’s Alvaro Saborio and Luke Mulholland.
RSL continued right where they left off in their last match against the LA Galaxy on Wednesday, starting the same 11 players in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Head coach, Jeff Cassar, explained after the match that he made the decision to capitalize on their recent momentum.
“It was such a positive result for us, a positive way we played, that we wanted to keep that continuity going forward,” Cassar said. “We knew we had quality on the bench to finish out the game in different fashions, and it worked well.”
RSL captain Kyle Beckerman was also happy with the result and the progress that his team has shown of late.
“I felt like our last two games we created quite a few chances,” Beckerman said. “Maybe not so many tonight, but we were more efficient, I think, than last week. Something to build off of, for sure.”
Beckerman admitted he felt a bit of relief seeing the opening goal splash the back of the net, ending RSL’s scoreless streak which was at 510 minutes not counting an own goal by San Jose's Victor Bernardez.
“Yeah it really was,” Beckerman said. “It was close to the post and I kind of had a good angle on it and it really felt good to see it go in.”
The second RSL goal was a clinic in team soccer as seven different players touched the ball in the build-up.
It was Allen who played the decisive ball, leading Devon Sandoval into open space in the box. Sandoval then found Mulholland at the back post where the Englishman used a skillful touch to loft his shot into the back of the net.
Allen, who leaves for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup immediately after Saturday's game, had another stellar outing against the Fire, providing two assists.
RSL’s breakout star created the opening goal when he got loose out wide and played a low cross into the top of the box. Midfielder Luis Gil made a strong run and dummied the ball to give Saborio enough time and space to blast a shot into the back of the net.
Allen's coach was full of praise for him after the match: “It’s a young man who plays like a seasoned veteran,” Cassar said. “He’s really impressing us, not just with the ball, but without the ball. That’s extremely important.
“I know he’s going to be representing our country well in the U-20 World Cup.”
Tyler Gray covers Real Salt Lake for MLSsoccer.com.
