Real Salt Lake: RSL opens Petke era with an unforgettable night

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Apr 8, 2017; Sandy, UT, USA; Real Salt Lake head coach Mike Petke was all smiles after his 3-0 win against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Rio Tinto Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

Real Salt Lake earned their first win of the 2017 season (first under Petke and first since last August) with a 3-0 victory over the Whitecaps in a spring blizzard.

Talk about making a memorable first impression. Real Salt Lake earned three points for the first time since late August with their 3-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps. Along with the victory, RSL was forced to grind out Mike Petke’s debut in a spring blizzard.

Despite having to play in the fluff, the Claret & Cobalt still exhibited noticeable changes under their new head coach. Here are some things that stood out in the club’s victory.

Let it snow

It’s easy to downplay the result based on the circumstances surrounding the match. Vancouver played a competitive match against Tigres UANL on Wednesday, leaving them without several key players for the weekend. The lack of a full strength side was only amplified by the large, wet snowflakes that covered the pitch at Rio Tinto in the second half, causing both teams to throw tactics to the wind and play like you would in the schoolyard during recess.

Apr 8, 2017; Sandy, UT, USA; Real Salt Lake fans show their spirit during their game against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Rio Tinto Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

Even with the unique conditions however, RSL’s play was noticeably different from the first whistle. The back line pushed higher up the field with Kyle Beckerman sitting back. The change allowed the attack to roam forward and float through the middle.

A relatively simple fix by Petke immediately paid dividend on the field. The free-flowing attack created several great looks for RSL, who had eight first half chances for a goal, none of which they were unable to finish.

It felt like a nightmare scenario for spectators. Botched chances have been a common trend over the last few months, typically accompanied with some sort of goal given to the opposition after a poor decision or turnover. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case this time around. RSL poured in three second half goals while still holding on for a clean sheet. The first half was arguably the best half of soccer the club has played since the 2014 season.

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