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SALT LAKE CITY — With U.S. men’s national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann at Rio Tinto Stadium to watch several of his players ahead of Wednesday’s international friendly against Mexico, rising star Luis Gil could’ve had knots in his stomach.
If he did, he didn’t admit to them. Nor show them, either.
Gil did, however, bolster his case for a regular spot in the senior team’s midfield with a goal and several crisp passes in Real Salt Lake’s 3-0 win over Toronto FC on Saturday night.
“I didn’t think of it. But it’s good to get a goal, in general,” Gil said. “It wasn’t the prettiest goal, but you’ve got to shoot to score. I’ll take it.”
With RSL leading 1-0 courtesy of a penalty kick by Alvaro Saborio, the 20-year-old Gil played like a veteran, crashing into the 18-yard box in the 28th minute for a score. When teammate Chris Wingert pinged a ball off several RSL players and the TFC back line, Gil wasted little time in pouncing on the deflection. With one touch, the former youth international slotted him a low shot past first-choice Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar of Toronto FC to double RSL’s advantage over the Reds.
Gil’s move to crash the box offensively and get more involved in the attacking third was a conscious decision, according to RSL head coach Jeff Cassar.
“We just challenged him to make sure we were getting him around the goal,” Cassar told the media after the game. “We wanted him to feel free to get into the attack more, and be mindful of our shape in the back. We challenged Luis to get into the attack more today, and he was fantastic.”
Gil wasn’t the only one. Saborio had a brace, scoring a goal in each half, to bring his 2014 scoring tally to a team-high three goals. Javier Morales and Kyle Beckerman each notched an assist, and goalkeeper Nick Rimando earned the 110th shutout of his career with four saves on 15 shots faced.
Saborio’s early goal was the icebreaker, though, in setting up Gil’s close-range shot.
“We scored early. I think that was huge,” RSL defender Nat Borchers said. “We knew once we got that first goal that we had a couple more coming.”
Gil timed his runs into the box perfectly. The youngster finished with only two shots but converted his only attempt on goal into a low banger into the back of the net. His other shot in the 49th minute was blocked by the defense, but the damage was done.
RSL outshot Toronto, 17-15 but carried a 5-3 edge in shots on target. And though TFC’s Gilberto led all players with five shots, the young designated player only placed one shot on frame.
Salt Lake, meanwhile, had nine guys get off a shot, spreading the ball with nearly 80 percent passing accuracy in a game RSL dominated with 60 percent of possession.
“Our best overall performance,” Cassar said of the effort. “I thought offensively, we were really bright with the ball and had really good ideas. And our defensive shape was fantastic. They were dangerous on a few chances, but we’ll shore those up.”
For Gil, it was another push in a career that has done nothing but rise since turning pro in 2010. Aside from a nine-game loan to AC St. Louis in 2010, the youngster has played the vast majority of his 93-game pro career in Salt Lake City. He’s also steadily risen up the ranks of the national team, beginning with a 32-game, five-goal stint at the U-17 level and bringing him to senior team camp ahead of Wednesday’s friendly — and an outside shot at the World Cup roster in Brazil.
But he admits he’s just happy to get an invitation.
“It feels good, just getting called into any camp with the men’s team,” Gil said. “I feel like it’s a humbling opportunity, and I’m there to learn.”
Notes:
Saturday night’s match also marked the 300th career regular-season start for RSL captain Beckerman. Only six other players in MLS history have played more than the Maryland native. … Defender Rich Balchan made the starting 18 for the first time of the year, entering the match in the 57th minute for Chris Wingert. Balchan was acquired in February 2013, but missed most of last season with a shoulder injury. … RSL’s forward ranks got a boost with the addition of Devon Sandoval to the first 18. Sandoval last played at MLS Cup 2013 in Kansas City, but missed the first three weeks of the season with a foot injury. He came on in the 84th minute for Olmes Garcia, who started his first game of 2014. … As many as seven players from the match are in a considerable position to go to the World Cup in Brazil with their respective national teams: Beckerman, Rimando, Gil and TFC’s Michael Bradley for the USA; Toronto’s Jermain Defoe for England and Cesar for Brazil; and RSL’s Saborio for Costa Rica. … Luke Mulholland saw time in his fourth-straight game, relieving midfielder Javier Morales in the 88th minute. Sean Walker is a recent journalism graduate of Syracuse University and longtime soccer guy who adds a few stories to KSL.com, when he has a spare minute. Follow him on Twitter @GoaldotSean.
