Real Salt Lake may have found a gem in their newest defender.
Justen Glad got his first career start against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday and earned raved reviews from his coaches and teammates for his performance despite the 2-1 defeat.
Glad only found out the day before the match that he would be making his MLS debut. The product of RSL’s Casa Grande Academy in Arizona was nervous at first, but also “really, really happy that [RSL head coach Jeff Cassar] gave [me] that opportunity.”
A center back in RSL's academy, Glad slotted in at right back a brand-new RSL back line that included Abdoulie Mansally, Elias Vasquez and Aaron Maund, who were playing together for the first time this season. Cassar spoke highly of the rookie, especially considering the circumstances of his debut.
“I thought he did very, very well,” Cassar said. “It’s not an easy task going against the Vancouver wingers with their speed and technical ability, on that turf, with a back four that that was the first time they were playing together all year.”
Glad is by no means a novice. RSL’s head coach emphasized that the 18-year old already has a wealth of experience at various levels of competition, from USSDA and Generation adidas Cup play with the Real Salt Lake academy (pictured at right) to USL, reserve and international games.
“He’s played in some very meaningful games for us before with our reserve team, with the Monarchs and with the youth national teams,” Cassar said. “He’s a young man, but he’s a very mature young man, and I thought he did fantastic.”
Glad clearly drew on this experience, showing poise in defense and a surprising amount of creativity and vision in the attack, with a handful of impactful passes. He even logged a key pass in the 94th minute of the match that almost led to an equalizer at the death. The defender played a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Álvaro Saborío’s run in the Whitecaps penalty box, but the Costa Rican Rican’s attempt flew wide of the mark.
- Find more RSL news and notes at RealSaltLake.com
Glad made his career debut in place of regular starter Tony Beltran. Glad spoke highly of Beltran and the many other teammates who have helped him transition to the pro game.
“It’s good we have teachers like Tony and [Jamison] Olave that are there to help you when you’re trying to find a new position and figure out what you’re supposed to do in these new spots that you’re not really comfortable with,” Glad said. “It’s definitely a help having those guys to learn from.”
RSL just finished a grueling gauntlet of seven matches in the month of May, and things are not letting up any time soon. The team will start Open Cup play on June 16th against the Seattle Sounders 2 and will begin CONCACAF Champions League play in August.
With this frenzied summer schedule coming up, RSL are just “Glad” they have one more player they know they can count on.
