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SANDY - Real Salt Lake brought their winning spirit back to Rio Tinto Saturday night while history was made for forward Jean Alexandre as they shut out the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0.
It was a big game for Alexandre as he put in his first career MLS goal in the 32nd minute putting RSL on the scoreboard first and then got his first MLS assist in the 79th minute as teammate forward Fabian Espindola put RSL's second goal in the back of the net.
Alexandre couldn't have been happier as the match marked Alexandre's 25th MLS game and just his second start up front for RSL.
"It feels great," said Alexandre. "I just want to thank God for this opportunity. I've been dreaming about my first goal and in my mind it's always been like a scrappy ball that hits me off the head and goes in the net, but actually it was a decent goal so I'm happy about that," joked Alexandre.
Alexandre also commented on going forward and said, "I've been thinking about this moment for a long time, but it's not over, I've got to stay hungry and keep getting better."
Espindola celebrated his goal by blowing a kiss and holding up the number 11 with his fingers toward where injured Javier Morales was sitting. Espindola's goal also put him in 3rd overall in RSL scoring with 18 goals.
The win also brought back the winning feeling the stadium had missed for the last few weeks. The crowd erupted with celebration as the final whistle was blown.
"We've worked really hard for a couple of years now to get that winning mentality here and it's been a while since we've gone through a rough patch and had all these injuries and Gold Cup so tonight was big just to get back on the winning column and just kind of start over, it's a new chapter," said midfielder and captain Kyle Beckerman.
Head Coach Jason Kreis was pleased with the result and his roster in the match saying it was a "step in the right direction," from the funk they have been in over the past few weeks.
"I was pleased with the competitive spirit from the guys from minute one to minute ninety tonight. We did a lot of really positive things in my book. Still room for improvement, still a couple steps forward to make," said Kreis.
RSL will be on the road next week as they travel to face the Columbus Crew on Wednesday, June 8 and then three days later to face the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, June 8.
RSL will return to Rio Tinto on June 18 as they host D.C. United.
