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SANDY — The monthlong wait for Real Salt Lake's $6 million man was worth it.
Record-signing and proven MLS striker Chicho Arango officially joined RSL with the opening of the summer transfer window Wednesday and made his debut at America First Field on Saturday, where he scored the opening goal in a 4-0 rout of Orlando City.
"Chicho was fantastic," head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "You just know something special is gonna happen when he's out there. I think he brings a ton of confidence, and I think it really bolsters the guys to raise their level."
After scoring 30 goals in a season and a half with LAFC, RSL knew it was only a question of when, not if, Arango would do the same for the Claret and Cobalt. It took all of 23 minutes in his RSL debut and first MLS minutes since November.
Braian Ojeda won a free kick and Pablo Ruiz delivered a perfect cross into the box, aimed right at Arango and his striker partner, Damir Kreilach. Arango got his head to it first and fired it into the right corner. He ran to the corner and threw up his token peace sign celebration.
"Chicho" had arrived.
He's baaaaaack. 😏
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 9, 2023
In his #RSL debut, Chicho Arango scores the opening goal. pic.twitter.com/7N432t3tKQ
Justen Glad scored an almost identical goal just before halftime on another set piece from Ruiz, and RSL went into the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead — still looking for its first home win in MLS play since April 22.
Jefferson Savarino and Anderson Julio added some style points in the final 12 minutes of regulation with a pair of strikes, further declaring RSL's return to the highest ranks of MLS squads.
"I think (the team) executed at a really high level and worked their tails off," Mastroeni said. "It's so cliche, but we have a very talented group, and without the effort, without the commitment on both sides of the ball, we don't get the result."
The win puts RSL in a tie for second in the West with LAFC — pending other results around the league.
RSL hits the road for a midweek matchup with Kansas City on Wednesday before returning to Utah for a showdown against New York Red Bulls on July 15.
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Caleb Turner
