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SANDY — Real Salt Lake defender Aaron Maund was just biding his time, floating in and out of the lineup and waiting for a moment to make his name at center back behind mainstays like Chris Schuler, Jamison Olave and Elias Vasquez.
In Tuesday night's Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal against Steven Gerrard and the LA Galaxy, Maund's time arrived.
The 24-year-old center back who started the season on loan with the third-division Real Monarchs scored the lone goal of the match in a 1-0 win that sent RSL to its second Open Cup semifinal since 2013. With a win Aug. 11 against either Houston or Kansas City, RSL can punch its first ticket to the Open Cup final since losing out on the title to D.C. United two years ago.
In the immediate term, Maund's late-game header kept RSL's hopes of a trophy and its accompany CONCACAF Champion's League berth alive. But in a season where the club currently sits just two points above last place in the rugged Western Conference, his goal has even more significance.
"It means we're going to the semifinals of this tournament," Maund said bluntly after the match. "But it means a lot for us, because we really wanted to win that game. We knew it was going to have be a team effort. It brought us together, and we got the job done. It's really rewarding to put it all on the line and come out with the victory."
The goal by the center back was fitting, since it was the pairing of Maund and Schuler that locked down the Galaxy's heavy-duty lineup. The duo held reigning MLS MVP Robbie Keane to two shots on goal — both saved by backup goalkeeper Jeff Attinella — and kept newcomer Gerrard to one shot on frame that Attinella adeptly stoned near the penalty spot during an LA counter attack in the 76th minute.
"Aaron's been working incredibly hard. He's finding himself in a nice little rhythm right now," RSL coach Jeff Cassar said. "I thought he and Chris were beasts in the back. Tony (Beltran, right back) and Abdoulie (Mansally, left back) were nice book ends to them, too.
"(LA's) attacking players are not easy to deal with. But Aaron's in a good spot mentally and he's taking care of himself. He's a big part of what we are doing."
Attinella also stood out to earn his second shutout of the season, making four saves in the effort. One of his saves came on a play eerily similar to a goal he gave up just two days previous to Colorado. But this time, with Gerrard bearing down on him on a counter attack, Attinella came off his line and punched away the England national team legend in stoppage time on the final play of the game to preserve the win.
"To be honest, it was another lesson learned," said Attinella, the regular No. 2 keeper to U.S. international Nick Rimando. "I didn't come off my line strong in Colorado and it cost me. Now when I was in those situations, I was thinking I would come get the ball first. I'm learning on the job here ... So I'm just trying to apply new lessons every time I step on the field and try to do a little bit better."
Gerrard's first 45 competitive minutes since leaving Liverpool — the only other club he's known — were primarily unsuccessful thanks to the efforts of Attinella, Maund and the back line.
"They had a lot of experience on that team. It was a lot of communication," Maund said in regards to keeping the shutout. "It wasn't easy, but we were always talking. Schuler's so good at talking, at communicating, and Luke did a hell of a job. Jordan (Allen, midfielder) came back, and everyone really contributed.
"It was a total defensive effort, and I couldn't be more proud of the boys."
Maund had never scored a goal in his professional career, but through 2,453 minutes with two MLS clubs, the Dorchester, Massachusetts, native pressed through to 25 starts in league play.
Even as the Notre Dame graduate endured criticism during his early days playing primarily with RSL's reserve team, the coaching staff stuck by him — and it's paying off as Olave remains sidelined with a lingering quad injury and Vasquez represents Guatemala in the Gold Cup along with the United States' Kyle Beckerman and Nick Rimando.
Maund's 6-foot-1 frame also gives RSL another option going forward, especially on set pieces and long crosses — the type of play Luke Mulholland set up in the 87th minute to record the game's goal.
"I got the ball and saw big Devon (Sandoval) and Aaron, two big targets to aim form, and I was just fortunate to find Aaron," Mulholland said. "I'm delighted that we got the goal for him. It's about time for him.
"Really good feeling right now; it's a special night."
