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RSL: Now is the time for Yura Movsisyan’s redemption

By Jordan Jacobsen

HARRISON, NJ - MARCH 25: Real Salt Lake forward Yura Movsisyan (14) during the first half of the MLS Soccer game between the New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake on March 25, 2017, at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HARRISON, NJ - MARCH 25: Real Salt Lake forward Yura Movsisyan (14) during the first half of the MLS Soccer game between the New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake on March 25, 2017, at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Real Salt Lake forward has been on a rocky road since his return. With Silva’s injury coming during a critical stretch, RSL will need Yura to perform.

After a slow start to the 2017 MLS Season, Real Salt Lake have managed to climb from the bottom of the Western Conference into playoff contention. Following their 2-1 victory over the Portland Timbers, RSL is now in sixth place with four games left on their schedule. In order to make the postseason, the club will need results. While being in sixth place is an accomplishment, RSL still has played a few more games than the teams around them. Dropped points by their competitors will help their chances, but RSL can only help themselves by winning games.

FRISCO, TX – JUNE 03: Real Salt Lake forward Yura Movsisyan (14) chases a ball during the MLS match between Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas on June 3, 2017 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX. FC Dallas wins 6-2. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
FRISCO, TX – JUNE 03: Real Salt Lake forward Yura Movsisyan (14) chases a ball during the MLS match between Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas on June 3, 2017 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, TX. FC Dallas wins 6-2. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Claret and Cobalt will host the Seattle Sounders next weekend before heading on the road to Los Angeles and Colorado then will round out the season at home against rival Sporting Kansas City. Real’s recent form means that all of these matches are very winnable. Seattle and SKC will have to come to Rio Tinto, and both the Galaxy and the Rapids are on the bottom of the table.

One of the biggest changes for RSL over the last few weeks was creating chances and more importantly finishing them. With the duration of Luis Silva’s groin injury currently unknown, RSL will have to rely on Yura Movsisyan up top in order to keep their postseason chances alive.

The Long Road

Yura Movsisyan broke onto the scene as a diamond in the rough, spotted by former head coach Jason Kreis. Movsisyan played up top with Robbie Findley in the famous 4-4-2 diamond RSL used under Kreis. He scored a total of 16 goals with four assists across all competitions in two seasons with RSL, his last season ending in RSL’s MLS Cup run. Yura bounced around Europe before heading to FK Krasnodar in the Russian Premier Liga, where he would deliver 23 goals and nine assists in 50 league games before getting the attention of Russian giants Spartak Moscow. With Spartak, Movsisyan’s success would continue with 16 goals and two assists in  27 matches over the 2013/14 season.

Yura injured his knee in the club’s second to last match that season, which eventually required surgery in the offseason. Movsisyan would miss Spartak’s first ten games the next season. He scored two goals and registered four assists in the next 16 matches he would feature in. He had his role reduced from being a starter to coming in as an impact sub before an ankle injury would force him to miss the last three games of the season. It didn’t help that Spartak fired their manager just before Yura’s knee injury, then fired his replacement just a few months later. Spartak then hired Murat Yakin who didn’t rate Yura coming after the injury-hampered season. Yakin had his contract terminated after one season.

Movsisyan would see one more coaching change during his final season with Spartak, before the opportunity to move back to Real Salt Lake became available.

Redemption

Yura was loaned to RSL before the start of last season, then had his contract bought outright following his 2016 campaign with nine goals and five assists. Movsisyan’s manager Roulet continued with RSL, as he witnessed Jeff Cassar get replaced by Mike Petke. Petke and Yura have notably clashed at different points since Petke took the reigns. The new coach wasn’t afraid to bench RSL’s most expensive designated player in club history, which created some drama between the two personalities.

It didn’t help Yura that backup and fellow MLS veteran Luis Silva ran away with the opportunity. Silva has had six goals and two assists during RSL’s recent run of form since July, and he has played a key role in helping unlock the RSL attack up front. With the playoffs on the horizon and Silva now down with an injury, Movsisyan should have an opportunity to start up top once again for Real Salt Lake, potentially for the four most crucial games of the season.

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There would be no better time for Yura to finally shake off the dust and return to his goalscoring form than now, and with how the last few years have gone for him, the 30-year-old may not have many more chances. Movsisyan does have seven goals this season, but he has failed to put away many of the chances he has had.

Real will host the reigning MLS champs on Saturday. Look for Movsisyan to have a make or break performance in the must-win contest.

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