Real Salt Lake Heroics Against Dallas Symbolic Of Mastroeni Tenure To Date

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake’s midweek comeback against FC Dallas is a direct reflection of how interim manager Pablo Mastroeni has led his team.

Mastroeni understands the tactical and strategical side of the game, he completely changed the entire shape of the team when he was announced as the interim.

Mentality Prevails, Again

But Mastroeni has not been focusing the majority of his attention on the strategic side of the game, rather, his focus has been on the psychological side. Mastroeni believes that the tactical element of soccer has a significant role to play within the game, but the most important task at hand for any manager is to establish a positive, competitive, and hungry locker room environment.

GUYS GUYS GUYS WE SCORED AND THEN WON pic.twitter.com/YrQBMAHkTe

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) October 28, 2021

“I think the early exchanges in the game are really critical and why it is important that we win those, those battles, the 50/50 battles,” Mastroeni said last week when asked why away games are so challenging. “I think if we find ourselves playing in their [the opposition] half of the field we have neutralized the crowd, I think we have neutralized the home field advantage and then it is about finding a way to get into the back of the net.”

The Beautiful Game

What good are tactics when your players cannot win a 50/50 challenge? What good are tactics when your team shuts down after conceding an early goal at home? What good are tactics when your team doesn’t understand the importance of strength?

The midweek fixture against FC Dallas was a perfect reflection of what Mastroeni has been trying to accomplish since taking reign.

Winning on the road in Major League Soccer has never been easy regardless of who the competition may be. It takes a lot of energy and perseverance.

Real Salt Lake found themselves down an early goal against Dallas in a game that Real Salt Lake could not afford to lose. The early momentum was in favor of Dallas, who peppered David Ochoa’s goal on multiple occasions throughout the early stages of the game.

Mastroeni was forced to go to his bench. The substitution that changed the game occurred in the 74th minute when Justin Meram came on for Jonathan Menéndez. Meram’s impact was immediate when his 75th minute shot from outside the box ricocheted off the woodwork coming within inches of equalizing. Then, just four minutes later Meram put a cross into the area that found the foot of Damir Kreilach who scored. 10 minutes later he played a one-two with Albert Rusnák who scored the game’s winning goal.

“It is one of those special moments in sports. You know, you’re up against it fighting for a playoff spot, fighting to get back into this game, and again we have been preaching team and what it means to be a part of something greater than yourselves, and in that moment I think it encapsulates all of it,” Mastroeni said immediately following the game against Dallas.

"It's one of those special moments in sports." #DALvRSL | @AFCU pic.twitter.com/EzOmbnbF3v

— Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) October 28, 2021

In 20 minutes of playing time, Meram hit the woodwork and notched two assists to lift Real Salt Lake to a much-needed three points.

Now, with still a game in hand, Real Salt Lake has two home fixtures before closing out the regular season on the road against Sporting Kansas City.

The fight shown by Real Salt Lake against FC Dallas reflects the leadership qualities of Mastroeni to a tee.

Standings & San Jose Fixture

Real Salt Lake currently sits in the final playoff spot in the western conference, but with a game in hand. Real Salt Lake will return home and play San Jose this upcoming Saturday, October 30th, with kick-off scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

The match will be available to stream for free via the KSL Sports & KSL 5 TV apps or on KSL Sports dot com.