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As they prepare for two games this week, RSL will need players to keep stepping up like they did in last Saturday's shut out win over the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Forward Fabian Espindola and midfielder/forward Jean Alexandre are two of the critical pieces for RSL.
Espindola and Alexandre both stepped up in last Saturday's match and delivered great results leading RSL to a shutout win and helping earn them three points in the MLS standings.
"It was good to see more players looking to turn the ball and look up field, play up field and run the ball," said Head Coach Jason Kreis on the performance against the Whitecaps.
Although Kreis still believes there is still "room for improvement in all aspects" of RSL's game he was also pleased with Espindola and Alexandre.
Following the match, Kreis told reporters that Alexandre still has some learning to do, but was pleased with his performance overall.
"He's still learning a little bit about the proper runs to be making to try to get in behind a little more often. He was more responsible with possession when it was played to him (Saturday). The number of balls he kept for our team and connected passes was much higher. He also made a couple of good runs and of course the goal that unlocked things for us was special. It was a little bit of an individual effort," said Kreis.
It was good to see more players looking to turn the ball and look up field, play up field and run the ball.
–Head Coach Jason Kreis
Alexandre played in the forward position back in college, but has had to transition from playing in the midfield position to the forward position for RSL in the last few weeks, but accepted the challenge with positivity and more than delivered in Saturday's match.
Kreis talked highly of Espindola's effort so far this season and knew coming into the season that Espindola would be one who would be of much significance for RSL this year.
"At the beginning of the year, if you had asked me who I thought was going to have the biggest impact on our team this year - who was going to take the biggest step forward - I would have told you him, because in the preseason he was a monster," said Kreis. "It's good to see him getting back to what he was doing in the preseason and early parts of the season."
Espindola had gone scoreless since his 93rd minute April 13th goal against the Colorado Rapids, but was very high spirited and positive following the match on Saturday. "It's always good when you score," said Espindola. "I always say the same - I'm a forward. I put everything I have in the games. It's good when you score and help the team."
RSL will definitely be put to the test this week, not only with two road games three days apart, but also with a slightly diminished roster that seems to be getting smaller with injury haunting them and three players gone on international duty.
Kreis simply stated, "Attention to detail, attention to detail," will be the key to having only 17 guys on the roster and two games this week.
Kreis also talked about how important it was to keep working hard with the improvements they still need to make. "The focus has to be that we know now that we have to work that hard if we want to win games. If we don't work that hard, we won't win games and when we do work that hard, we'll win most of them."
Email: onlinesports@ksl.com
