This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated.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 • Their relationship got off to a rocky start, the dynamic goal-scorer and the no-nonsense head coach.

It was over three weeks ago that Joao Plata found himself at Real Salt Lake's training field in Sandy taking laps by himself, running alone as his teammates went through training drills in preparation for the upcoming week's match.

Mike Petke later elaborated on why, of how the 25-year-old forward missed his flight back to Salt Lake City and wasn't in time for what the week had in store. Petke preaches accountability above all else, so he used that as an opportunity to show that his era at RSL meant business.

As the weeks wore on, Petke said his messages to Plata were getting through. In last week's loss in Seattle, RSL's head coach spoke glowingly of the 5-foot-3 forward whose motor — when operating at full speed — is something to behold in Major League Soccer.

But the goals weren't coming. The cuts around defenders were working, the turbo-level sprints were, too.

But the back of the net evaded Plata, RSL's leading goal-and-assist man of 2016. That changed in the 36th minute Saturday night at a sun-soaked Rio Tinto Stadium. Plata ran onto the end of a cross from teammate Jefferson Savarino, poked the ball by Philadelphia goalkeeper Andre Blake, and there it was.

The goal — all RSL (4-8-2, 14 points) needed in its 1-0 win over the visiting Union.

The momentum of Plata's run nearly carried him into the goalpost as RSL's faithful let loose a jubilant roar. He eventually crawled out of the goal and screamed himself, falling to his knees and pointing skyward. Petke's words stayed in Plata's ear the last couple of weeks as shots sailed high or wide or wound up in the mitts of goalkeepers.

Petke's message?

"The goal will come, and once the goal comes, then it will open up a bit more for more goals to come," Petke said after the win. "I'm very happy that he got the goal tonight because he deserved it. He played a hell of a game."

Together, Plata and Savarino unraveled four Philadelphia defenders as Plata's pass outside the box hit Savarino, whose one-time pass rolled back to Plata. The Ecuadorian striker one-touched it back to Savarino, leaving the Union back line in shambles. All Savarino had to do was send it back in, and all Plata had to do was get a foot on it.

"That's maybe a goal of the year candidate," RSL defender Tony Beltran said. "Their movement, the combination. … That was [Barcelona]-level stuff."

What it was, midfielder Albert Rusnák explained, was "the perfect win." The 1-0 win, he said, is more ideal than a 4-0 trouncing. When a team wins 1-0, it snags three points, scores the necessary goal and keeps the other team at bay.

"That's the nicest win in football, to win one-nil," he said.

Petke concurred.

"They managed it well, got the goal and held on and played some good soccer around that," RSL's coach said.

Perhaps most important, though, RSL saw Plata finally see the ball cross the line. Petke's public challenge to Plata three weeks ago is now seeing dividends, which not only means well for the now, but also for the long-term as RSL must continue its climb after a sluggish start to 2017.

"His best performance in recent memory," Beltran said, "and he's had a lot of fantastic performances, so that's saying something."

Petke pulled Plata off in the 91st minute to rousing applause. With his tank close to empty, Plata was embraced by Petke, who delivered more words of encouragement to use next week.

Twitter: @chriskamrani —

Storylines

R Forward Joao Plata scores his first goal of 2017 in the 36th minute.

• RSL notches its fourth shutout of the year in the win over the Union.

• RSL hits the road next week with trips to Houston and FC Dallas.