RSL vs. FC Dallas, Player of the Match: Jefferson Savarino

In the post-game Mike Petke stated that he did something he’s never done in Utah so far. He gave a player the game ball. That player, of course, was Jefferson Savarino.

The young Venezuelan faced a fair and valid amount of criticism whilst being in a sophomore slump so far this season after being such a talisman in the last. He hadn’t scored or dished an assist since early May and had only commanded one of each so far on the season before then.

All in all, before the victory against Sporting Kansas City, he had only put the ball in the back of the net twice in 40 attempts, putting about one in every three on target. The last two games, however, have been something entirely different.

In the last two he has put together both a goal and an assist. In the latter game he has been nothing short of phenomenal playing above and beyond his now second best performance of the season at this point. He had an excellent assist to Luis Silva cementing the victory, completed his passes with 87% accuracy, had three passes result in shot attempts, won nine of fourteen possible duels, drew two fouls, and landed three tackles.

Additionally:

Oh Landycakes.....

It looks like Mike Petke and company have been listening as the five-foot-seven-inch winger made not one but two goal line saves. It was a night to remember for Jefferson Savarino with many more promising nights of summer ahead.