RSL trades for Columbus defender amid damage desperation

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Royals made their first personnel transfer of the season earlier this week, and Actual Salt Lake adopted go well with simply three days later with a transfer of their very own because the membership’s damage report reaches important ranges.

The group introduced Friday the acquisition of 24-year-old center-back Philip Quinton from the Columbus Crew for as much as $200,000 generally allocation cash through commerce. The transfer comes as 4 center-backs had been listed on the damage report for Saturday’s match in Chicago, together with questionable tags for starters Justen Glad and Brayan Vera.

Head coach Pablo Mastroeni stated the group would seemingly usher in one other center-back after a season-ending damage to backup Marcelo Silva earlier this month, and the group received the transfer in simply days earlier than Tuesday’s MLS major switch deadline. The oft-injured Erik Holt was the ultimate center-back left on the bench however has missed the final two weeks with a hamstring damage.

The decimation of the center-back place pressured excessive measures for RSL in coaching this week, with not solely exterior backs Bode Hidalgo and Bryan Oviedo shifting inside to supply depth, but in addition attacking midfielder Matt Crooks briefly filling in for the protection throughout sure drills and scrimmages.

Mastroeni, a former defender himself, even jumped in on the again line of the scout group on the finish of coaching on Thursday as issues actually grew to become determined.

“It is not ultimate when one of many coaches has to step in,” goalkeeper Zac MacMath stated, ending with a nervous joke. “However he, clearly, has the thoughts nonetheless, and I simply pray that he does not get harm.”

The commerce announcement famous that Quinton will meet the group in Chicago forward of its match on Saturday night and “may probably present cowl for bench depth.”

Quinton was chosen within the first spherical of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft (twenty fifth general) out of Notre Dame and had one aim in 12 appearances for the reigning MLS champion Crew.

“I believe over the previous couple of years we have all the time form of handled adversity fairly nicely. It is all the time been a next-man-up form of mentality,” MacMath stated of the accidents. “Sadly, we have had in all probability too many accidents. I believe you see that throughout the league. However whoever’s able to step in is gonna be prepared and do their greatest.”