Two first-half saves from goalkeeper Tim Melia proved crucial against RSL, the shutout highlighting his 200th regular-season appearance for SKC. Right back Graham Zusi also passed retired defender Matt Besler to become their all-time minutes leader, another milestone for the club.
And while SKC aren’t necessarily out of the woods just yet, there’s a definite upturn in confidence within the club after ending RSL’s four-game unbeaten start.
“We’ve all been in the sport long enough,” Russell said. “We’ve lost games. You’re going to go through tough periods in a season. Ours came early. A difficult start, not the start that we would like.
“Obviously, we would like to start the season flying and sort of build from there, but it’s not happened like that. We have had a lot of guys out, a lot of new guys coming in as well. So it took a little bit more time than we had hoped but I feel we’re definitely taking steps in the right direction.”
