2023 US Open Cup Quarterfinals: RSL's Damir Kreilach voted TheCup.us Player of the Round

Kreilach’s two goals in RSL’s 3-2 win over the LA Galaxy earned the RSL midfielder/forward/utility star TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for the Quarterfinals.

This article originally appeared in TheCup.us, the leading news outlet for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. It has been reprinted here with permission from the author.

At this time a year ago, Damir Kreilach was recovering from back surgery, a microdiscectomy procedure in his lower back where doctors removed portions of a herniated disc on his spine to relieve pressure.

The procedure, for as successful as it was, cast a shadow over the 33-year-old team captain’s career. At the very least, it ended the season prematurely for the native of Vukovar, Croatia.

Now he’s better than ever.

After scoring just one goal in five appearances a year ago prior to his injury, Kreilach has rejuvenated his game — and his Real Salt Lake squad’s hopes in Major League Soccer — with a team-high four goals and an assist in league play.

His own rejuvenation, though? Well, one could make an argument for some credit going to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Kreilach’s two goals in RSL’s 3-2 win over the LA Galaxy earned the RSL midfielder/forward/utility star TheCup.us Player of the Round honors for the Quarterfinals.

Other nominees for Player of the Round included Houston Dynamo forward Ibrahim Aliyu, FC Cincinnati’s Alvaro Barreal and Inter Miami goalkeeper Drake Callendar. The Player of the Round award is voted on by TheCup.us staff, a select panel from the North American Soccer Reporters, and select backers of TheCup.us on Patreon (donors that pledge $10 or more).