Another improbable equalizer has Real Salt Lake #Believe-ing in 12-match unbeaten run
Another improbable equalizer has Real Salt Lake #Believe-ing in 12-match unbeaten run
Real Salt Lake did it again, preserving its 12-match unbeaten run with a winger Andrés Gómez's late stoppage-time equalizer, 1-1 at Seattle Sounders FC.
All good things must come to an end.
Just not on a midweek summer night in Seattle.
Three days after a dramatic equalizer against FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake did it again as winger Andrés Gómez finished off his second attempt in the ninth minute of second-half stoppage time to help RSL snatch a point from the Sounders, 1-1 at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Providence was smiling down on Gómez and his club.
“I asked God to let me help the club to, at least, tie the match,” the 21-year-old Colombian winger said in Spanish. “Fortunately, God gave me the ball twice and thanks to Him, I was able to put it away. I’m very happy to be able to help my club take some point away from home.”
These last three games, from rallying from a 2-0 and 3-2 deficit to beat Colorado 5-3, a 98th-minute equalizer against FC Dallas by Nelson Palacio, and a 99th-minute goal by Gomez, have been something else.
But, to quote the MLS club of a previous era known for its last-gasp, never-say-die attitude: Goonies never say die.
“When you experience these three games on the sideline, you’d be crazy not to think the ball is going in,” RSL manager Pablo Mastroeni said shortly after the latest equalizer in club history.
Albert Rusnak gave Seattle a 1-0 lead with a stunning free kick in the 68th minute, putting his current club ahead of his former club before casually celebrating his 50th career MLS goal to go along with 50 assists.
But again, the Goonies never say die. Or at least, Real Salt Lake didn’t.
After fellow former RSL man Danny Musovski had a goal called back by video review for a missed foul prior to the shot, RSL had only so much time to rally.
But the visitors used it wisely, from Brayan Vera’s long ball into the area (with Emeka Eneli ready to do the same) to Chicho Arango’s header in the box to Matt Crooks’ ball to keep the play alive and a stellar second effort by Gómez that led to the dramatic finish.
“It’s football, man,” Mastroeni said, before later adding. “I’m forever a believer in the spirit. To have a group of guys that don’t quit, that don’t stop, that believe we have a chance, it’s almost like these guys override their brains and let their spirits take over. I can’t say enough about this group.”
Whatever Mastroeni is feeding his club, it seems to be working. Grit. Mentality. xDawg. Belief.
Even the coach believes.
“I couldn’t be the guy hiding behind fingers and telling the guys, ‘we’re going to score here,’” Mastroeni added. “I’m an eternal optimistic. These guys have taken it to the nth degree, superseding anything than I’d imagine the last three games.”
The power of the spirit is pushing Real Salt Lake into rare territory, to the top of the Western Conference with an 8-2-6 record, 30 points, and a 12-match unbeaten run that is tied for the second-longest single-season such streak in club history (including seven-straight without a loss on the road).
But belief only works if it compels action, and Salt Lake is acting on its belief.
“If you don’t believe, you’re not putting yourself into positions,” Mastroeni said. “You don’t have Emeka or Brayan at the top of the box, or Andres, Fidel and Chicho inside the six ready to pounce. Belief is what guides the players, and that mentality.”
Call it what you will, it’s working. This team has something special in it, a belief that extends beyond the Starting XI to every role player, rotational squad member and bench spark from match to match, RSL midfielder Diego Luna said.
But Ted Lasso-level stuff?
Ehhh, not quite.
“No funny games, no Ted Lasso stuff,” Luna said. “I think it’s just the mentality. It’s something that we’re striving to win, games, championships; it’s all serious. We can have fun when we want to. But we know when we step on that field, we play to win.”
Eventually, Real Salt Lake’s unbeaten run will come to an end — they always do. But it didn’t Wednesday night, and it may or may not be Saturday against Austin FC (7:30 p.m. MT, MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
The West leader’s streak lives on another day.
It also won’t go down without a fight — the same fight that has propelled three-straight comeback efforts.
“I think we’re all goin to fight for each other,” RSL goalkeeper Gavin Beavers said. “Coach says a lot, chest out, balls out … We stick to our game plan, keep fighting until the end, and never stop.”