This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Two of Real Salt Lake's most tested veterans offered their own version of the club's struggles the last few weeks, both doing so in similar deadpan fashion.
Considering the club wasn't shut out through its first eight matches of the year, captain Kyle Beckerman was asked to expound upon the recent back-to-back shutout losses on the road.
"[The shots] haven't gone in," Beckerman said.
Javier Morales was later asked what he'd like to see change ahead of RSL's trip to face Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kan.
"First, the score," Morales said. "I want to win."
RSL (5-3-2, 17 points) is smack-dab in the middle of its five-game-long road trip — the longest in the history of the franchise — and takes on a Sporting KC team fresh off snapping a seven-game winless streak. RSL's had success at KC already in 2016. On April 2, RSL left Children's Mercy Park with three points despite missing five starters due to injury or suspension.
"It was 11 players all on the same page," said RSL coach Jeff Cassar. "The exact same page, doing all their responsibilities and we created a ton of chances. It's not rocket science. What we want is a good team effort, everyone buying into what's being sold."
RSL's high-profile attack has veered off its upward trajectory after scoring multiple goals in six of its first eight matches in 2016. The back-to-back shutout losses at Colorado and Houston haven't offered much optimism entering the stretch run of this lengthy road trip. And RSL knows it must climb out of this lull to ensure some points are to be had on its six-week-long trek.
"Our attackers, they've got too much juice to be shut out a bunch of games," defender Chris Wingert said.
Cassar said in reviewing game film from recent weeks, RSL grew too comfortable playing wide and stretching the field when its forte is staying compact and combining various players into the attacking third of the field. Too often, Cassar explained, things have become disjointed, leaving players on the ball in tough spots to find important players.
Like Morales. The RSL creator hasn't been on the ball as much as he'd liked to be the last two weeks.
"I don't know the statistics in the last couple games, but if I'm telling you what I saw, I didn't touch the ball much," he said. "I try to look a lot, try to go deep and get the ball, but I see the ball [being kicked] over me all the time. I don't know why. But yeah, for sure, I need to touch the ball."
The 36-year-old midfielder is finally healthy after injuries and illness slowed his start to 2016. And Cassar understands that RSL needs to get its longtime playmaker going. In seven matches this season, Morales has one goal and no assists. The last two seasons, Morales has a combined 24 assists.
"It's the choices that we make, but we do need Javi to stay in that No. 10 role rather than trying to drift too far out wide to find the ball," Cassar said. "We actually have to solve the problem [in Kansas City]."
Beckerman said the goal drought has been a focus in training this week. No better place to end it than at Sporting KC, he said.
"We're trying out best, we're working hard [and] we've just got to keep shooting," he said.
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Real Salt Lake at Sporting Kansas City
P At Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.
Kickoff • Saturday, 6:30 p.m.
TV • KMYU
Radio • 700 AM
Records • RSL 5-3-2, Sporting KC 5-6-2
Last meeting • RSL 2, Sporting KC 1 (April 2 at Children's Mercy Park)
About RSL • Center back Aaron Maund (hamstring strain) is probable to play for the first time in three weeks. … Left back Demar Phillips (groin strain) returned to training fully this week and is available against KC. … Midfielder Sunday Stephen (ankle) is progressing and is probable for this weekend. … RSL will learn which players are eligible for this summer's Copa America Centenario by early next week. … The U.S. men's national team roster will be unveiled Saturday afternoon and could include Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando. … RSL's U.S. Open Cup match at Rio Tinto Stadium has been moved to Tuesday, June 14, at 8 p.m.
About Sporting KC • Snapped a seven-game winless streak in its 2-1 victory over Orlando City on Sunday at home. … KC has already lost two home matches in 2016, once against RSL and once against the West-leading Colorado Rapids. … Forward Dom Dwyer leads the club in goals scored with five. … Defender Saad Abdul-Salaam leads the team with four assists this season. … KC out-shot Orlando City 34-7 last weekend. … Midfielder Brad Davis made his 379th regular-season appearance, moving into second place all-time among field players, trailing only Beckerman. … Dwyer's goal last weekend was his 50th career goal for KC.