Former RSL Goalkeeper Jay Nolly Animated By MLS Is Back Tournament Draw

Jun 15, 2020, 3:28 PM

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Former Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Jay Nolly played a large role in bringing Nick Rimando to the club in the midst of his eight years as a professional soccer player. Now, however, he speaks freely on the subject matters that revolve around Major League Soccer on the radio.

“I had a really good pre-season in my second year, so 05′, and I had a really good game against D.C. (United) which is where I think it all started back up with Piotr Nowak (coach of D.C. United at the time). When Nick Rimando was out of contract at the end of the year, RSL went after him and I was the asterisk at the bottom,” Nolly said. “Obviously RSL made the right decision, Nick had a fantastic career.”

Now, Nolly finds himself in the radio booth broadcasting RSL games, talking, analyzing and discussing the play of his former club. When he heard that RSL was in a group with Sporting Kansas City, Colorado and Minnesota United for the upcoming MLS Is Back tournament, he was not surprised.

“I like the groups, but it is interesting how they got there,” Nolly said in regards to the group draw.

The West is going to be fun. Who moves on? 👀 pic.twitter.com/bOrDOQ9X22

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 11, 2020

Real Salt Lake will fight for regular-season points during the MLS Is Back tournament group stages. If they finish in the top two of their group, they will qualify for the knockout rounds where they will begin their quest to qualify for the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League. The tournament is scheduled to begin on July 8 and will run through August 11.

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Tom Hackett is a Utah and Real Salt Lake Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the It’s Utah’s World Podcast (Utah Football themed) and The Lion’s Den Podcast (Real Salt Lake themed). Follow him on Twitter: @TomCantHackett.