Real Salt Lake Continues Climb Up MLS Power Rankings After Dominating SKC In Home Opener
May 3, 2021, 10:55 AM
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake is continuing to shock Major League Soccer after another convincing win against Sporting Kansas City in their home opener.
Prior to the season starting, many pundits pegged RSL to be one of the worst teams in the league. Reasons for their pessimism were understandable, considering the club is still without ownership and down a designated player.
With ESPN colleague @BonaguraESPN…This week's #MLS power rankings. #Sounders back on top, #NERevs up to second. https://t.co/3gVp9EBUJw
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) May 3, 2021
However, in the latest edition of ESPN’s MLS Power Rankings, RSL is now ranked as the sixth-best team in the league and the only club that is yet to drop a point in 2021. It has been a remarkable turnaround for RSL who is playing an exciting, goal-scoring, brand of soccer.
This past week, RSL hosted Sporting Kansas City in the home opener and despite going down an early goal, was able to respond with three goals on the trot to put their arch-rivals to bed 3-1.
Rubio Rubin, who admitted after the match that his career was in jeopardy a year ago, is in career-best form. Through two games, he is credited with two assists and two goals. He has added significantly to the attacking third which is creating goal-scoring chances at will as of late.
The first week, RSL was ranked 26th out of a possible 27 teams. Since then, 6 points have been added to their tally and 20 spots have been climbed in the power rankings. A sensational turnaround from where they were just six months ago.