:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45964950/usa-today-8454819.0.jpg)
Real Monarchs make their debut
We got to watch that first Real Monarchs match, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Surely there's more to say, but we're struggling here. A handful of RSL players participated, including Lalo Fernandez, Boyd Okwuonu, Aaron Maund, Phanuel Kavita, Fito Ovalle, Sebastian Saucedo and ... wait for it ... John Stertzer!
Which, yeah, means John Stertzer's back — and that's awesome. He played all 90 minutes in his first return from injury of the season (let's hope it's the last), after he broke his toe (or something like that) kicking the back of Tony Beltran's foot. What luck that kid has.
Five from RSL, Monarchs sent on international duty
This one's nice for those players called up, but it puts us in an awkward position. (We'll get to that later.) Our list of called-up players is kind of fun to look at, so let's take a gander.
- Nick Rimando (USMNT)
- Luis Gil (US U-23)
- Elias Vasquez (Guatemala)
- Alvaro Saborio (Costa Rica)
- Emery Welshman (Guyana)
Bye week
Because MLS always makes oh-so-much sense, both Toronto FC and Real Salt Lake were given early-season bye weeks, and we're a little concerned that it's put us in a ridiculous position where a handful of players will be absent through international duty.
And that's on both sides. So ... why, MLS? That's all we want. And please don't say "TV! Hooray!" because that sounds awfully stupid if you say it slowly.
Injury concerns
Demar Phillips suffered a slight hamstring strain after our last MLS match, it seems, giving him a little bit of a setback. Other than that, we're not too bad off. Whew.