Javier Morales’ biggest contribution of Real Salt Lake's win on Friday may have been when he decided to not score a goal.
Real Salt Lake got their third consecutive victory across all competitions in a 2-1 win over visiting Sporting Kansas City. Joao Plata got the game winner on a penalty kick, after Morales got the opening goal as well as an unofficial assist of sorts on the second, when he simply deferred to his teammate.
It was the 73rd minute. RSL forward Olmes Garcia had just made an impressive 60-yard run into Sporting's box before being dumped by goalkeeper Tim Melia. Morales, the designated penalty taker now that forward Alvaro Saborio is no longer on the team, did a curious thing: He told Plata to take it instead.
“[Plata] asked me,” Morales explained after the match. “Like I always say, I don’t care about who scores goals or makes assists. I care about winning games. He has confidence, and I think he needed it. He scored the last game, and now he’s scoring good. I need him playing that well. There is a reason I gave the PK to him. He shot it great.”
The goal was just the second time that Plata had scored in MLS play this year, albeit his second tally in as many weeks following a late start to the season due to a broken foot, and Morales knew that building the star striker’s confidence was more important than his own season total.
Still, Morales' goal wasn't too bad. With about 10 minutes to go in the first half, a long ball forward from RSL was headed twice, first by Plata and then by forward Sebastian Jaime, who was able to nod the ball into the onrushing path of Morales. The man they call the maestro continued to defy Father Time, with a slick move through SKC's defense before burying the shot.
“Personally, I think Javier has carried this team on his back the last few games,” RSL midfielder Luke Mulholland said. “Moreso since [Kyle] Beckerman and [Nick] Rimando have been away [at the Gold Cup]. He’s stepped up as the captain. He takes pride and honor in us. The first half, I wasn’t playing great … but he carried us, scored that goal, and brought us back into it after halftime.”
Morales continues to make all of the right moves this season, causing teammate Jeff Attinella, who had a few key contributions of his own against Kansas City, questioned why the Argentine wasn’t chosen as an MLS All-Star.
“Talk about an MVP candidate,” Attinella said. “I know there are a lot of guys getting a lot of attention. But what Javi’s doing this year, the fact that he’s not an All-Star is a crime. He’s having an unbelievable year and hopefully everyone is starting to realize it. He’s good for this group right now. Keep giving him the ball; it works.”
Morales deflected the praise as usual, saying that the important thing was that the team got the victory.
“Like I said, I don’t care. I understand the rules. A lot of big games — you have Kaká, [David] Villa, I think [Steven] Gerrard played one game and he’s an All-Star. I understand that it is for the people, for the fans. I’m happy to play for Real Salt Lake, to score goals for the team and to try to help win games.”
