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SANDY — It took two penalty kicks and the return of two players who went the full 90 minutes just 36 hours after stepping off a plane from Brazil, but Real Salt Lake found its mojo again Friday night in a 2-1 home win over the New England Revolution.
The extra oomph started right away as RSL put up seven shots in the opening 35 minutes and constantly threatened the Revs in the opening half hour.
"Obviously having Kyle (Beckerman) and Nick (Rimando) coming back and giving us that extra boost helped out tremendously. But what I was really pleased with was the way we started the game and the way we finished the game," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said. "We were really aggressive in trying to play in their end."
The World Cup veterans took an overnight flight from Brazil on Wednesday, and landed at Salt Lake International on Thursday morning. Rimando texted Cassar during a layover in Atlanta, and the head coach mentioned there was "no pressure" to start right away — despite the team's 1-3-4 record since he left.
By the time Friday rolled around, both players knew they wanted to play — for their coach, their teammates and Salt Lake City.
"The welcome that we got, we knew it was going to be great," Rimando said. "The fans here are great; they represent at the highest level. Getting back on that field wearing our colors is something Ive been wanting to do since we left."
Javier Morales scored first, blasting a ball from the penalty spot past an otherwise spectacular Bobby Shuttleworth in the 35th minute. But the Revolution equalized barely two minutes later when Darrius Barnes tucked away a free kick on one of the visitors' two shots during the opening stanza.
Rather than wilt, though, RSL responded with determination.
"I think there was a bit more buzz in the crowd," said Beckerman, who played 270 minutes for the United States during the World Cup in Brazil. "The excitement around the stadium was big, being our first game back. It was fun."
The diminutive Joao Plata put the home side ahead for good in the 65th minute — again on a penalty kick. RSL midfielder John Stertzer was fouled inside the New England box, and the Ecuadorian forward capped off several runs through the offensive third with a goal.
"He was threatening all night long, and he was making fantastic runs," Cassar said of Plata. "They were threatening, put in a lot of chances, and then put it in on the defensive end to close out the game."
But the energy came from Beckerman and Rimando, who helped the team snap a six-match winless streak that included five MLS matches. Three points from a win at this point in the season was needed for an RSL side that struggled for several weeks.
"It's what we are looking for from the beginning. Trying to get three points at home is what we do, and that would be really important for us," Morales said. "After a couple of losses, we needed a win. Finally, we got it tonight."
Morales got forward into the attack, leading the team with four shots along with his goal from the spot. RSL dominated possession, controlling 69 percent of play in the first half while cruising to 61 percent on the night. The team also completed 81 percent of its passes, a glaring improvement with the return of Beckerman.
The World Cup veterans know the season is long, and they aren't completely healthy. But being back on the field was helpful — and it came at just the right time for Real Salt Lake.
"I wanted to get back. I've been itching to get on the field," Rimando said. "I didn't know until I got onto the field. Am I 100 percent? Probably not. But as time goes on, I'll get back on it and do the right things to get the body right. This was a good first for me; I wanted to get back on the field."
