We often hear announcers marvel at intricately-planned set pieces brought “straight off the training ground” and into match play.
But how often do they work like they're supposed to in game play – much less as perfectly as this one did for Real Salt Lake against Columbus on Saturday night?
After RSL won a free kick in a threatening spot some 25 yards out from Steve Clark's goal in the 35th minute, most would've expected Luke Mulholland to curl a lofted delivery to the far post for one of his teammates to attack in the air.
But the Englishman casually stroked a low pass to Kyle Beckerman's feet at the top of the 18-yard box instead, and Beckerman lifted a nifty ball to Joao Plata's run around the Crew SC wall.
Plata nodded a deft header into Olmes Garcia's path at the far post, giving the Colombian a simple tap-in as the Columbus defense scrambled unsuccessfully to catch up with the danger.
Thanks to two gutsy comebacks from Crew SC, it didn't bring home all three points for the home side at Rio Tinto Stadium. But it should at the very least inspire younger fans to put in the work on their own crafty set pieces.
