Emeka Eneli plays 'best game of his career' in second start of sophomore season

ST. LOUIS — Real Salt Lake head coach Pablo Mastroeni isn't afraid to push the boundaries of his players' traditional positions, but second-year renaissance man Emeka Eneli may be the most extreme example yet.

Eneli was drafted with the 25th overall pick in the 2023 MLS draft after playing primarily as a winger and striker for Ivy League side Cornell. He played 1,318 minutes and made 13 starts for RSL last year almost exclusively as a defender, either at right back or as a defensive-minded midfielder.

One year later, Mastroeni says Eneli just completed the best 90-minute shift of his young pro career as a do-it-all central midfielder against St. Louis after starting the first game of the season in Miami at right back.

"He played the best game of his professional career," Mastroeni said after the 1-1 draw in St. Louis. "Keeping the ball, moving the ball, stealing the ball and his concentration. Now we have four players who can fill those two midfield positions."

Eneli took the place of Nelson Palacio, who started in the midfield in Miami and allowed usual central midfielder Pablo Ruiz to play a more advanced attacking midfielder role that Mastroeni has moved him into this season. Saturday's debutant Matt Crooks can also play attacking midfielder, allowing Ruiz to slide back into the center with the fourth midfielder, Braian Ojeda, if needed.

With RSL's new focus this season on controlling the ball more, Eneli's talents become especially of use. The match statistics would back up Mastroeni's praise of Eneli, as RSL controlled 60% of possession despite playing on the road against last year's No. 1 team in the Western Conference.

"I think I would agree with that as well," Eneli said when asked for his reaction to his coach's praise. "I think I've come a long way just from last year in my style of play and how comfortable I am, and so for Pablo to say that as well it just means a lot to me. And, hopefully, it's just something I can build on as the season continues."

So what was it about Saturday's matchup that allowed Eneli to have his best game yet?

In his own words, it was the ability to "fight for the second ball" and "win duels," which combined to help the team control possession. Mastroeni repeated almost the exact same details, saying he decided to start Eneli in the midfield on Saturday because they needed someone who would be engaged and concentrated on fighting for the second ball.

Eneli, similar to the previous year's breakout midfielder, Jasper Loffelsend, seems to have a limitless motor and knack for consistently hounding attacking opponents. Part of the job of a "box-to-box" midfielder is covering an enormous distance for the full 90 minutes, and Eneli's conditioning, both physically and mentally, fit the bill perfectly.

When asked if he could see himself as a full-time starter after starting just 13 of his 21 games last season, Eneli took the humble approach.

"It's a long season, obviously, so I think if I continue to put in the same work I did today, put it in every single training session and continue to work hard and just build off of this game," Eneli said. "Something that I would love to do is play as many games as I can. That's my goal for this season."

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