Wasatch Soccer Sentinel

With a 1-0 loss to FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake lost consecutive home games for the first time since March 2023, and they lost their third consecutive home game in all competitions. The storylines will be dominated by a red card to Ariath Piol, which I think was justly given. Still, a red card doesn't mean RSL has to give up on defensive plays yet again

• Cabral (GK) — 8.5: He did make a penalty save — while the penalty was poor, that doesn't negate his save. This rating is more about the saves he made outside of that moment, doing very well at shot-stopping in key moments. It’s just a shame that, once again, he’s been let down by a defending player who's
• Quinton (RB) — 4: When you’re the tallest player on the pitch (If he’s not the tallest, he’s at least close), you absolutely cannot let the shortest player on the pitch score with his head. He was also a little fortunate to play all 90 minutes, given his remonstrations with the referee.
• Glad (CB) — 7: RSL’s most involved player, and he had two key passes late on as RSL bid for an escape with a point.
• Vera (CB) — 7: Nothing spectacular, but had a really nice clearance from a foot off the goal line. Got a yellow card, because that’s what he does.
• Junqua (LB, off 66’) — 6: He didn’t make any crucial mistakes, which was a nice change. But he’s certainly not an attacking threat, and the team seems to expect him to be.
• Ojeda (CM) — 7: He had a fine game. He’s obviously better with Emeka Eneli, who was said to be out with back spasms. There weren’t many particularly great singular moments, but he
• Palacio (CM, off 66’) — 6: He was fine. Not great. Not horrible. Just fine.
• Piol (RW/ST?) — 4: I know the red card will be controversial among RSL fans, but I think it was justified. Piol came in high with his studs and wasn’t trying to play the ball. (I suppose he could have been trying to play the ball, but straight-legged, straight down? I dunno.) His decision put RSL in a demonstrably worse position. The worst part? We couldn’t even see what he was going to be doing in his weird hybrid position. (And the losing. I guess also the losing.)
• Ruiz (CAM) — 5: Did nothing in his 45 minutes, then suffered a gnarly head injury after going in late on a Dallas player. There was a lot of blood. Hopefully he came off for the blood and not for a concussion.
• Goncalves (LW) — 7: Not a great match, but once he starting dropping deep late in the match, he looked dangerous.
• Ajago (ST, off 81’) — 5: Never a threat, won just one of seven aerial duels, and was lucky to not connect with a high boot that likely would have seen him hauled off. Beyond just not being a threat, he was a passenger. A poor game, and he should have come off sooner — but RSL has no attacking options, and that’s not really his fault.

Substitutions

• Wolff (RW, on 46’) — 6: Had one or two good moments. That’s about it.
• Katranis (LB, on 66’) — 7.5: Did well to get involved from the moment he stepped on. Didn’t have a ton to do defensively, but he was good when called upon. Forced attacks down the left side capably. Still a bit of a mystery why he didn’t start.
• Brook (CAM, on 66’) — 6: Had three shots from distance. None were particularly threatening. One came sort of close.
• Henry (ST, on 81’) — N/A: Wasn’t on long enough for a rating. Played at forward to inject some chaos, I guess.