SANDY, Utah -- It wasn’t exactly how Sebastian Saucedo wanted his first big minutes to go.
Real Salt Lake lost a heartbreaker at home to the Vancouver Whitecaps, conceding a goal in the 80th minute, moments after they had gone down to 10 men when a red card was shown to Saucedo a few minutes earlier.
It was a moment of youthful exuberance. Saucedo, who was playing the first extended minutes of his young career, saw an opportunity to win the ball back at the top of the opponent’s box and was a bit too eager with his tackle. The 18-year old extended his left leg with cleats exposed and caught Mauro Rosales.
Referee Ted Unkel blew the whistle and reached toward his back pocket. Despite the pleading of his RSL teammates, Saucedo saw red and was forced to exit the match just 12 minutes after he was subbed on.
“I tried to get the ball and tried to get it as clean as possible and it led to something else,” Saucedo said after the match. “I can take the blame for getting a red card and obviously it led to their goal. It’s something that I have to overcome. My teammates say to keep my head high. It’s my first opportunity to play more than 20 minutes in the game. It just went by really quickly with the red card.”
Four minutes after his ejection, visiting Vancouver recorded their lone shot on goal of the match, and forward Darren Mattocks made it count.
It was midfielder Russell Teibert who provided the assist, lofting an inch-perfect cross into the box where Mattocks was waiting. The Jamaican international rose high and nodded the ball home.
Tony Beltran
empathized with Saucedo after the match, explaining that he understood what must have been running through the young attacker’s head.
“It’s a tough moment for him for sure, obviously not the ideal situation,” said RSL's right back. “He’s hoping to come in at home. He’s a hometown kid and he’s a very, very talented kid. But, that’s soccer. There are highs and lows.”
Beltran went on to share his own experience from his rookie season with RSL.
“I remember my first year, we were away in Kansas City, it was the 80-something minute and a free kick, I give up an own goal and we lose 1-0,” Beltran recalled. “Soccer is about perspective. That’s not going to be the theme of [Saucedo’s] career. He’s going to go on and be a very, very good player in MLS. This will be a learning opportunity for him and that’s all.”
Even veteran players experience mental lapses. Saucedo’s teammate, Jamison Olave, picked up his second yellow of the match in the 89th minute and left RSL down to just nine men for the remainder of the match.
RSL’s depth will be tested in the upcoming matches and after Saucedo serves his red card suspension, he’ll most likely be called on to provide that spark off the bench once again -- a fresh opportunity to change the narrative.
Tyler Gray covers Real Salt Lake for MLSsoccer.com.
