Sergio Córdova Growing In Confidence Following Breakthrough Goal

Mar 15, 2022, 3:55 PM

Photo by Laura Dearden of Real Salt Lake.

KSL Sports

SALT LAKE CITY – Real Salt Lake forward Sergio Córdova is loving his time in Major League Soccer and admits that he is growing in confidence with every passing day spent in Utah.

Córdova, 24, joined Real on loan from Bundesliga side FC Augsburg following David Blitzer and Ryan Smith’s ownership takeover. Blitzer also owns Augsburg, making the transition for Córdova swift and smooth.

LOAN WATCH 👀

Sergio Córdova scored his first goal for Real Salt Lake this weekend! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/1z6qMSPgpD

— FC Augsburg (@FCA_World) March 14, 2022

Upon arrival, Córdova was struggling with form despite signing a 5-year extension on his Augsburg contract in 2020. It had been roughly a year since Córdova last scored a professional goal when he joined Real Salt Lake.

Nevertheless, he made the move with his hopes and ambitions of achieving greatness in North America. Immediately his presence was felt on the training pitch and his size, speed, and control separated him from a growing list of teammates. Córdova was poised yet intense, determined to make an impact and catch the eye of the new coaching staff.

After fighting to secure fitness, dealing with a preseason injury blow, rueing missed opportunities in front of goal, Córdova finally found the breakthrough that he had been longing for. In the 78th minute of Real’s fixture last weekend against New England Córdova pounced on a loose ball inside the area, two touches later and a dribble around the goalkeeper Córdova calmly passes the ball into the back of the net. The drought was over and Córdova’s account was officially open in Major League Soccer.

#RSL pull one back!

Córdova is there to clean the play up and it's game on in New England. pic.twitter.com/n3QWimh75O

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 13, 2022

“I feel a lot better, I am very happy,” Córdova said when asked about ending the drought. “It had been a while [since he last scored] and so coming here that was a goal of mine to achieve and I am happy to overcome and surpass that objective.”

Fortunately, Córdova has a unique skill set. Manager Pablo Mastroeni can utilize him on the wing or at the point of the attack. Preferably, if Córdova had it his way he would start at the point of the attack and not on the wing but like all good teammates is willing to play whatever position Mastroeni asks of him.

As time passes, the chemistry with the attacking players will grow. Córdova is starting to find a strong connection with fellow former Bundesliga companion Bobby Wood and states that it is very easy playing alongside Wood. They even communicate on and off the pitch in German.

“I love playing with Bobby [Wood] and I feel like there is a great connection there, Córdova said in a recent press conference. “There is great communication and we work well off each other, I also think that I can learn a lot from playing next to Bobby [Wood]. Our connection is not just great for us but also great for the team,” he added.