
Brayan Vera Named to Team of the Matchday
July 18, 2024 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release
Following his sizzling goal from distance and 90 minutes of mistake-free defending in RSL's 1-1 road draw at LAFC on Wednesday night, Colombian centerback Brayan Vera becomes the latest RSL player to be named to Major League Soccer's "Team of the Matchday" for Matchday 27.
Wednesday night's goal from nearly 32 yards out was Vera's first of the 2024 campaign, but his fourth overall as an RSL player in 2023 and 2024. Appearing in 32 games across all competitions last year, Vera scored three goals overall - including two on lefty free kicks that few would have known existed had it not been for the late-season Pablo Ruiz injury.
Despite dropping just two of its last 20 matches, posting 11 wins and seven draws against just two losses, recent setbacks at Portland and at home against LA Galaxy have seen RSL fall into second place in the West for the first time since mid-March. RSL's 0-3 loss at Portland last Saturday was its heaviest of the season, but the bounceback 1-1 draw at LAFC Wednesday embodies the mentality and resilience of the Pablo Mastroeni era, with RSL losing in back-to-back matches on just nine occasions in 125 games played across all competitions since August, 2021, when Pablo assumed the Club's reins.
Vera - who also has two assists to his name this season - has returned to Mastroeni's starting XI in each of the last three games after securing his Green Card, the process causing him to miss the July 3 home victory over Houston due to immigration travel. Both of Vera's caution accumulation suspensions this year have incidentally come against the LA Galaxy, both on May 11 in Carson and June 22 at America First Field. Last December, the 25-year-old Vera made his Colombian National Team debut.
RSL now focuses on securing its first hardware of the season, concluding the current three-game Western Conference road gauntlet in suburban Denver with the Rocky Mountain Cup on the line. RSL fell to the Rapids on March 9, 1-2 at America First Field, before a dramatic 5-3 home win on May 18 put the Claret-and-Cobalt Cup holders back into the lead. With a win, draw or even a one-goal loss Saturday, RSL would secure the fan-created RMC for a 15th occasion in 20 seasons, with the 2020 Cup disputed due to a variety of Covid-19 reasons that affected that year's series.
RSL have sold out five consecutive contests in Sandy and seven of 11 this season, with tickets still available at www.RSL.com/tickets for the upcoming Leagues Cup contest against Atlas on August 1, as well as six of its nine remaining post-All-Star MLS reg. season games starting on August 24 through mid-October's "Decision Day."
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Major League Soccer Stories from July 18, 2024
- LA Galaxy Announce Programming Details for Home Match Against Portland Timbers on Saturday, July 20 - LA Galaxy
- Earthquakes Sign Defender Wilson Eisner to Contract as Homegrown Player - San Jose Earthquakes
- Earthquakes Exceed 35,000 Tickets for July 27 Leagues Cup Match vs. Chivas at Levi's Stadium - San Jose Earthquakes
- Celebrating 100: Drake Callender Recounts Top Five Moments in First 100 Matches - Inter Miami CF
- D.C. United Acquire $75,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money from Toronto FC - D.C. United
- Toronto FC Sign Defender Henry Wingo - Toronto FC
- Houston Dynamo FC Sign Winger Lawrence Ennali as Largest U22 Initiative Signing in Club History - Houston Dynamo FC
- Brayan Vera Named to Team of the Matchday - Real Salt Lake
- Federico Redondo and Diego Gómez Named to MLS Team of the Matchday - Inter Miami CF
- Goalkeeper Chris Brady Selected to MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 27 - Chicago Fire FC
- Paul Arriola Named to MLSsoccer.com's Team of the Matchday - FC Dallas
- Daniel Steres Named to MLSSoccer.com Team of the Matchday - Houston Dynamo FC
- Major League Soccer Announces Significant Roster Rule Changes - D.C. United
- Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC Appoint Hollywood Executive Courtney Carter to Chief Revenue Officer - Seattle Sounders FC
- San Diego FC Announces DIRECTV as the Club's Official Jersey Partner - San Diego FC
- Charlotte FC Unified Athlete and Partner Earn 2024 All-Star Honors - Charlotte FC
- Five Points: Character - New York City FC
- Chicago Fire FC Announces Endeavor Health as Naming Rights Partner of Club's New Performance Center - Chicago Fire FC
- New England Revolution Foundation and Women of Color Entrepreneurs (WOCE) Team up for Pop-Up Market Before Match on July 20 - New England Revolution
- Philadelphia Union Acquire Forward Sam Adeniran - Philadelphia Union
- A $3 Million Donation from New York City FC to Randall's Island Park Alliance Will Bring Professional Soccer to Icahn Stadium - New York City FC
- St. Louis CITY SC Trades Forward Sam Adeniran to Philadelphia Union - St. Louis City SC
- D.C. United Win 3-2 against Minnesota United FC on the Road - D.C. United
- St. Louis CITY SC Drops Road Match at Seattle Sounders FC - St. Louis City SC
- Atlanta United Draws New York City FC 2-2 - Atlanta United FC
- Columbus Crew Draws Charlotte FC. 1-1 - Columbus Crew SC
- Houston Dynamo FC Score Late Goal to Earn Three Road Points at San Jose - Houston Dynamo FC
- Minnesota United Defeated 3-2 by D.C. United - Minnesota United FC
- LA Galaxy Earn 3-2 Victory Over Colorado Rapids at Dignity Health Sports Park on Wednesday Night - LA Galaxy
- Real Salt Lake Draws 1-1 at LAFC - Real Salt Lake
- Cabral, Bassett Notch Goals, Rapids Fall Short Against LA Galaxy - Colorado Rapids
- Visitors Score Goal in 86th Minute to Break Deadlock; Quakes Look Ahead to Saturday Road Match vs. Minnesota United FC - San Jose Earthquakes
- LAFC Plays to a 1-1 Draw with Real Salt Lake - Los Angeles FC
- Sounders FC Continues Winning Ways with 2-0 Win Over St. Louis CITY SC - Seattle Sounders FC
- Revolution Downed by Union, 5-1 - New England Revolution
- CF Montréal Complete 2-2 Against New York Red Bulls - Club de Foot Montreal
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