Wasatch Soccer Sentinel

• Cabral — 8: Once again, Rafa Cabral kept RSL in a game. He had a few key saves that really made the difference. Also, at 86:08 he juggles the ball for some reason? I don’t know, I thought that was kind of wild.
• Quinton — 6.5: Generally fine, no major concerns — but for a wide center back, he’s not the most mobile. Increasingly though it feels as if RSL’s wide center backs are just … center backs. So a 6.5 he gets.
• Glad — 6.5: Perhaps could have done better for the set piece, but once again, RSL is overloaded and playing a weird zonal marking system from the corner. I think that’s a coaching problem?
• Engel (off 61’) — 6: Fine. Didn’t stay on for 90 minutes; that’s always difficult when center backs step away. Clear he’s still coming back from injury; I’m not overly concerned.
• Gozo — 8: All-action right wing back, got in the attack with frequency, contributed an assist and a fantastic run in the build-up to RSL’s first
• Moisa (off 61’) — 7: A generally very fine performance, had a big role to play in RSL’s opener
• Caliskan — 7.5: A steady performance in the midfield from a player I didn’t rate in the middle last year. Happy to be proven wrong so far.
• Sanabria — 7: Good stuff from the new left wing back, including a nicely lofted pass for Aiden Hezarkhani’s opener.
• Hezarkhani — 7.5: Took his goal with aplomb, had a positive impact throughout. Clearly has a vote of confidence from the coaching staff, staying on for 90 minutes.
• Piol — 7.5: Despite another missed passing opportunity, a strong performance from Piol and a nicely taken goal. Deserves a ton of credit for going out there with the wrong name on his kit (it read “POIL” — a shame!) and putting in an excellent performance. Very unfortunate to suffer an achilles injury that will likely see him miss significant time.
• Booth — 6.5: Nothing too exciting here, did well enough, didn’t overly impress. Just sort of … was there? But, like, in a good way.

Substitutes

• Ruiz (on 61’) — 5: A disappointing performance from Ruiz — he looked slow and out of ideas. Connected OK, but slowly. Defensively very suspect, fell back to those already-beaten tackles that don’t get anywhere near the player or ball. Not the player he was four years ago, which is a real shame at what should be the peak of his career.
• Junqua (on 61’) — 6.5: Did just fine.
• Solans (on 72’) — 6.5: One great run from which he absolutely should have passed to Piol, a couple good shots, a beautiful pass to Guilavogui. Something on which to build.
• Guilavogui (on 72’) — 6.5: Connected well in the attack and had a really lovely run from which he definitely should have scored. Shame he didn’t.
• Marczuk (on 82’) — N/A: Not on long enough to rate.