Unbeaten No More: Talking through RSL's 1-0 loss to Sporting KC, and World Cup qualifying
Unbeaten No More: Talking through RSL's 1-0 loss to Sporting KC, and World Cup qualifying
Plus, the guys look back on the United States' 5-1 win over Panama that all-but clinches a spot in the World Cup in Qatar. It's been a hellish four years, American soccer fans; drink it up.
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Now let’s get back to some soccer …
Sean and "The Coach" Mark Davis are back with the only Utah soccer podcast with a national championship ring to break down Real Salt Lake's 1-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City, the first loss of the season during a remarkably fast start for the Claret and Cobalt.
Johnny Russell got the goal, but more concerning are the injury issues plaguing Salt Lake. Also, Jaziel Orozco debuted for RSL at 17 years old — and the we can already tell the Mexican-American dual national has a bright future ahead of him. Can he step up if he is one of just two center backs available for head coach Pablo Mastroeni against rival Colorado on Saturday?
There are a lot of injuries plaguing this RSL squad, and recovery times may keep several of them out for an extended period. Mastroeni told ESPN 700 that Justen Glad is still 3-4 weeks away, Bobby Wood is still up to four weeks away, and Aaron Herrera hasn't even started to train with the team in his comeback. Johan Kappelhof will miss 3-4 weeks with an injury suffered during pregame warmups at Kansas City, and Erik Holt — who was subbed at the half with plantar fasciitis to make way for Orozco, could miss 3-6 months for RSL.
If you've got a spare center back, off one up to RSL right now. Training might be a little light with the center back group this week, but Mastroeni doesn’t think his methods have much (if anything) to do with the recent rash of injuries, for what it’s worth.
“I think you’ve got to train the way you want to play,” he said. “All these situations: Holt’s plantar fascia might be a hard field. Johan was dealing with a calf strain from the last game. Bobby felt his hamstring tighten up; those are all different, and unique to their own bodies.
“But I think in order to play a certain way, you have to train a certain way, and I don’t think that had anything to do with these injuries.”
Elsewhere in the soccer world, the United States all-but clinched qualification for November's World Cup in Qatar with a dominant 5-1 win over Panama in Orlando. Christian Pulisic had a hat trick, and The Coach almost had a stroke because he was so happy.
All the Americans have to do is not lose to Costa Rica 6-0, and they are through to Qatar. Even if they do lose by a big margin, they'll likely face New Zealand (or the Oceania qualifier) in a playoff spot to go to the World Cup.
Easy enough, right? Kickoff from San Jose is Wednesday, March 30 at 7:05 p.m. MT (CBS Sports Network, Universo, and streaming on Paramount+, Peacock).
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