This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Sandy • There was no targeted game or date set for that grand moment Albert Rusnák felt totally adapted, totally at home in Major League Soccer as one of the league's top young playmakers. No, since Day 1, he said his daily assimilation was the key, so as not to allow the pressure of his high-profile arrival or position on the field weigh him down.
"If you can score on your debut," he joked, "then great."
After all, performances are demanded from you when you replace a club legend. Production, too. As Real Salt Lake enters "The Blue Hell" at Children's Mercy Park to face Sporting Kansas City on Saturday night, it will be without a key element of the ongoing rivalry between RSL and SKC. RSL midfielder Javier Morales was a linchpin in these meetings for years, a flash point in the mutual disdain between the two sides. He's gone now, off with FC Dallas, and will make his return to Rio Tinto Stadium next weekend.
But for now it's up to Rusnák, RSL's new Designated Player, to mimic what Morales was able to do for so long — control the flow in one of the the league's most intimidating atmospheres. Despite that, RSL is riding a seven-game unbeaten regular-season streak against Sporting KC.
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder who signed this offseason as a significant building block of RSL's long-term future has two goals and three assists in seven matches this season. The one game he missed — a 0-0 draw at the New York Red Bulls on March 25 — was to play for his native Slovakia in a World Cup qualifying win.
"I know it takes a while to settle in, but a new team, a new country, new style of soccer, new league," he said, "so [I knew] that could take a little bit longer. I'm happy with the way it is right now."
RSL should be, too.
Rusnák has remained a constant amid the turmoil of an early season coaching change and a rash of injuries to positions all over the field. He's higher up the field under new coach Mike Petke, finding the ball in the offensive third and darting forward, taking on defenders 1-on-1, showing his strength and vision on the ball. Rusnák shined in the 3-1 home loss to Atlanta United, outmuscling opponents trying to knock him down. He instead would utilize what is becoming a patented spin move to avoid contact.
"I'm closer to the goal, then it's up to me to make a decision whether it's a pass or a shot," he said. "But the higher we play up the field, then the better it is for the attacking players. And it can be good for the team as well because we're defending further away from our goal."
Asked to describe how he's adapted in his first couple of months in MLS, Rusnák said it doesn't matter how he fares as an individual.
"It's all about the team," he said. "The better we play as a team, then the better the each individual plays and looks on the field."
He'll be a target against Sporting KC. Defensive midfielders Roger Espinoza, Soni Mustivar or Ilie Sánchez will have the Slovakian attacker in their sights, ready to introduce Rusnák to the RSL-KC rivalry. Rusnák is showing a bit more personality game by game, revealing what kind of player he is on the pitch.
"I'm a winner," he said. "I want to win every game, so when we're not winning, of course the emotions come through, and you can see those on the field a little bit more. But I've always been emotional, and I've got a passion for the game. So that's not something that's going to change."
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
About Albert Rusnák
Age • 22
Getting used to MLS • RSL's new playmaker has two goals and three assists in seven starts
Playing career • Real Salt Lake (2017-current), FC Groningen (2015-2017), Manchester City (2013-2015), Oldham Athletic (2013), Birmingham City (2014), SC Cambuur (2014)
—
Real Salt Lake at Sporting KC
At Children's Mercy Park, Kansas City, Kan.
Kickoff • 6:30 p.m. MDT
TV • KMYU
Radio • 700 AM
Records • RSL 2-4-2, Sporting KC 3-1-3
Last meeting • 0-0 draw (Oct. 16, 2016 at Rio Tinto Stadium)
About RSL • RSL will be without goalkeeper Nick Rimando (hamstring) this weekend. … Backup Matt VanOekel, who debuted in a 0-0 draw at New York on March 25, is the odds-on starter. … Midfielder Sunday Stephen (hamstring) could return to the game-day roster after playing with Real Monarchs last weekend. … RSL is riding a seven-game regular-season unbeaten streak against Sporting KC dating back to 2014. … RSL snagged two wins in two visits to Children's Mercy Park in 2016, scoring five goals.
About Sporting KC • Sporting KC, with one of the stingiest defenses in the league, has conceded just three goals in seven games. … KC's offense has struggled, scoring only six goals in its first seven contests. … Despite Benny Feilhaber missing the first two games of 2017, KC has yet to have another player miss a start due to injury. … FC Dallas dealt KC its first loss of the year in a 1-0 win in Frisco, Texas, last weekend. … Forward Dom Dwyer leads the team in goals with two this season. … Goalkeeper Tim Melia ranks fifth in MLS in saves with 23.