Rusnak’s two-goal salvo was momentous for player, club

Albert Rusnak.

Coming into Saturday’s match, he hadn’t scored since July 7.

He also hadn’t scored two goals in a game for Real Salt Lake.

Ever.

In fact, if I’m reading the numbers accurately, Rusnak hadn’t scored two goals in a single competitive match since May 2015 in a much bigger match than this one: the KNVB cup final against PEC Zwolle.

You know what’s weird? Rusnak’s two goals in that game came first from the top of the box, then around the penalty spot (though not from a penalty.) And his two goals last night? The top of the box and from the penalty spot.

The universe has a funny way of working itself out sometimes.

In fact, that appears to be the only other time he scored two goals in a single professional game at the senior level. He did it once against Everton’s U-21 side while playing for Manchester City, too.

Beyond that, there’s one more big achievement we should mention.

Can you believe that? Sure, it helped to have six minutes of stoppage time, but that’s enormous, and we are lucky today to have witnessed it.

What a night for the kid, and let’s not forget that he’s just 24 years old, and his best is probably in front of him.

We’ll talk more about the why of his game in the coming days, but the what? It’s hard to look past how big those last six minutes really were.