This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Sandy • For the better part of the past decade, innovation at Real Salt Lake has been deep-rooted in the mind of No. 11. It's no secret, and hasn't been since Javier Morales burst onto the Major League Soccer scene in 2008. His name is one of a select few synonymous with the sort of consistent creativity so many clubs crave from their midfield playmakers.
But too often the past few seasons RSL grew overly reliant on the brilliance of the 36-year-old Argentine. Morales made it difficult to argue otherwise. From 2013 to 2015, Morales produced 25 goals and 34 assists in league play.
In its 4-0-2 start in 2016 — still the last unbeaten team in MLS — RSL is trumping the stigma. Or has trumped it. There's been no other alternative. Morales has dealt with the lingering effects of a rib fracture suffered in Week 1 at Orlando City on March 6. To go along with the pain and discomfort, Morales has dealt with a series of illnesses that have slowed his return to feeling 100 percent. Through RSL's unblemished start, Morales has played just 171 out of a possible 540 minutes.
In his absence, RSL's new-look forward trio has shown that 2016 will be different. Joao Plata, Burrito Martinez and Yura Movsisyan are still growing accustomed to playing as a front line, but have each individually proved that the RSL attack will not stagnate without Morales.
Want evidence? RSL has yet to be shutout in 2016. Need more? RSL's four wins this year without Morales in the starting lineup equals the amount from the previous 42 regular-season matches without him.
"All of our attacking players are extremely talented and when they're playing with each other, you can do special things," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said following the 1-0 win over Vancouver. "You can do some things that you don't necessarily think are going to happen because you trust the player that is giving the ball to you."
Cassar then paused.
"I think that we can still get even better," he continued. "That is what is exciting."
Plata has four goals and four assists in six matches, notching his most recent on his assist to Martinez, who scored the game-winner against the Whitecaps Saturday night. The former Boca Juniors forward does not shy away from taking runs at several opponents, as evidenced by his growing highlight reel.
"I improvise," Martinez said. "It depends on what the other team does. You can't start a play thinking, 'I'm going to do that.' You have to see what the opponent's going to do."
The opposition has yet figured out a way to slow down the RSL front three. The unfortunate news is Morales hasn't worked his way back to full health yet.
But the flip side of that comes with a potential bright spot: If opposing clubs can't figure out how to slow down Plata, Movsisyan and Martinez now, what will happen when Morales returns to the starting lineup?
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Real Salt Lake at L.A. Galaxy
P Saturday, 8:30 p.m. MDT
TV • KMYU