Mulholland, Gil show chemistry in win over Sounders


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SANDY — When Luke Mulholland came into the Real Salt Lake squad at the beginning of 2014, his locker was placed next to fellow midfielder Luis Gil.

The move, regardless of intent, would symbolize a strong partnership and budding friendship. Usually the tandem would play in the same spot, substituting for each other on the left side of RSL’s diamond midfielder and next to playmaker Javier Morales.

For the third time of their careers together, Mulholland and Gil started next to each other Saturday, with Gil taking the attacking midfield role for an ailing Morales. It worked perfectly in a 2-1 win over Seattle that put the Salt Lake side one point ahead of the Sounders in the Western Conference standings and tied with Sporting Kansas City for MLS's top spot.

“Me and Luis are good friends,” Mulholland said after the high-noon match in front of 20,483 people. “He sits right next to me in the locker room, and we spend a lot of time together. He’s great with the ball at his feet, good at dribbling and he plays the ball simple. I love being able to link up with other good players.”

Gil and Mulholland pushed each other further into the attack, taking three of RSL’s eight shots as both played 90 minutes. Gil also played 90 minutes in an international friendly Tuesday against Club Tijuana, but he looked fresh and confident as he pulled the strings of RSL’s offense.

“It’s a different game,” said Gil, who added he feels "comfortable" playing attacking midfield. “You can open up the game for everybody else, and you see different things. I feel like I see a different field playing centrally.”

Mulholland, Gil show chemistry in win over Sounders
Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred/Deseret News

RSL coach Jeff Cassar played a major role in bringing Mulholland to Salt Lake City after a Best XI season with NASL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies. After several flights to Florida and hours of watching the Englishman play, Cassar said the two-way midfielder “had it all.”

“He has that fighting spirit,” Cassar added. “He’s a perfect two-way midfielder, even though he played attacking mid for Tampa Bay. He had all the characteristics to be a two-way midfielder. It’s a credit to him, to his teammates for welcoming him into the team, and he’s really adapted.”

Mulholland assisted Joao Plata on the first goal of the match, putting a cross from a free kick just off the far post and in line for the Ecuadorian striker to head it home. He added a goal in the 57th minute, rifling a shot past Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso.

RSL completed 139 more passes than the Sounders, and finished the game with 53 percent of possession after a dominating 62 percent possession in the opening 45 minutes. The hosts played 38 more passes in the final third, many between Gil and Mulholland, despite taking a scoreless draw into halftime.

Seattle won the opening match of the season between the two squads, but Gil said the revenge factor barely played into RSL’s overall preparations. Nevertheless, with revenge sought, RSL turns to another crucial game at FC Dallas, the third-place team in the West, next Saturday.

“You want to come into every game wanting to win,” Gil said. “But we’re regaining our rhythm back, and we’ve just got to keep it going.”

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