May 12, 2008 by f4denz.

Kreis was right, so says US Soccer

U.S. Soccer Referee Week in Review Week 6
Referee team performances were solid in 5 of our 7 games.  In two of the games, the referee’s performance failed to match the intensity level of the game and, consequently, the games lacked the entertainment value that has been a hallmark of many matches thus far this year.  Referee teams need to sense the flow and “atmosphere” or spirit of the game and recognize the danger signals as the game develops.  In the two aforementioned games, the referee relied too much on personality and too much on flow to manage the game.  Referees must recognize that, as the game/situation changes, they must adapt their personality to EXCEED the intensity levels of the players.

Video Clip  9:  Galaxy at RSL (38:43)

This example illustrates the mechanics outlined above.  It also, however, shows how the manner in which the referee signals “wait for my whistle” (ceremonial free kick) can be misinterpreted by the defending team as an indication of Indirect Free Kick.  Look at the height of the referee’s arm.  His signal to hold the kick is similar to the indirect free kick signal.  For this reason, US Soccer recommends that the referee hold the whistle no higher than his face and point to it clearly distinguishing an indirect signal from the “wait for my whistle” signal.  In the press, the coach was quoted as saying the goal should have been disallowed because the free kick was indirect.  Also remember that a foul that looks like dangerous play can be a direct free kick when contact is made with the opponent.

Video Clip 12:  Galaxy at RSL (42:15)

This decision is very unfortunate as it takes away a potential game winning goal as the score is tied 2-2.  At the professional level, this type of decision cannot be made as the attacker is at least 1 yard onside when the ball is passed by his teammate and there is plenty of time and space for the AR to make a proper decision.  Notice the ARs position, 2 or more yards behind the second-to-last defender.  Therefore, the ARs view of the goal scorer is skewed.  With the ARs position, the goal scorer will seem to be in a more advanced position than he is in actuality.  We must get this right!

ON MY SOAPBOX
One has to wonder why it took so long for this report to come out? Normally this report is finished and published mid week, but this report was a full 5 days late and after another weekends matches, was this done to gloss over the mistakes and hope that a weeks action would steer attention away from the injustices? MLS and US Soccer have to come up with a way to do better than just apologize for the mistakes, if you can fine and suspend a coach for pointing out the truth, what punishment is levied against the officials who make the errors and cost a team a victory? If you want the league to be taken more serious around the world, then getting these issues resolved has to be a top priority.
OFF MY SOAPBOX

RSL vs. FCD fallout

RSL Wins Ugly Over Dallas American-soccer-news.com
Real Salt Lake preserved its undefeated home record on Saturday night with a 2-1 victory over FC Dallas, overcoming a weak start and a Dallas equalizer to earn what was characterized as an “ugly” win.

RSL head coach Jason Kreis said, “That’s probably one of the worst games we’ve played this season, in my opinion. And maybe that’s a good thing because maybe we need to learn how to win ugly, and tonight was that case.”

RSL earns ugly win sltrib.com
There were a number of milestones achieved in Real Salt Lake’s 2-1 win over FC Dallas on Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium, and not all of them were good. On the negative side was the fact that RSL coach Jason Kreis thought it was the worst match his team has played all season.

Wodraska: Give me wins, losses – not ties sltrib.com
I had a great time at the Real Salt Lake game recently when I was assigned to write a column on David Beckham. The game started out great with two goals by the home team, then got even better when Beckham scored twice in a five-minute span with two kicks that displayed the accuracy and strength that once made him the best player in the world.
ON MY SOAPBOX
OK, first I don’t know who Lya Wodraska is and to be honest after reading her option piece on soccer I don’t care. First David Beckham has never been the best soccer player in the world, not now, not at Real Madrid, not for England, and not at Man U, not once has he been the best player in the world. Next please do not send someone who has no or little understanding of soccer to cover the sport, ties are a part of the sport and always have been, not every sport needs to cater to the typical American sports fan. Changing rules has not helped the NHL get a larger impact on the US sports market, and never will. Understanding that soccer is about the accomplishments of a season, and not an individual match, while MLS has catered in part to the US need for a playoff, when you look at the top tier of world football, seasons are won or lost without playoffs. If you’re going to offer opinions please take time to at least learn a little about the history of the sport.
OFF MY SOAPBOX

RSL picks up an ugly, much needed victory deseretnews.com
Real Salt Lake has definitely proven since its inception that winning doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time — and in RSL’s case — years to figure it out. Amid a tumultuous week in which coach Jason Kreis was suspended and captain Carey Talley was traded away, RSL might’ve taken a step in the winning direction Saturday night.

Real Salt Lake backups fall to Dallas deseretnews.com
For the second straight weekend Real Salt Lake’s reserves found themselves in the midst of a goal-scoring fest Sunday morning at Quinn’s Junction. This time, however, it was RSL’s defense that did most of the breaking down. Leading by a goal at the break, Real’s reserves surrendered three goals in the second half in falling to FC Dallas’ reserves 5-3.
(I love that the local media is providing some coverage of the reserves, good job)

FC Dallas at RSL player grades By James Edwards at deseretnews.com
Here are the grades for RSL’s starting 11. There were some tough choices because even though his team won the game, coach Jason Kreis thought it was one of the the team’s worst performances of the year: The only thing that matters at the end of the day are wins.

FC Dallas suffers first road loss of season Dallas Morning News
FC Dallas suffered its first road loss of the season Saturday, dropping a 2-1 decision to Real Salt Lake at Rice-Eccles Stadium. “A frustrating loss, a disappointing loss,” said Dallas coach Steve Morrow, whose squad fell to 2-2-3 overall and 1-1-2 away from Pizza Hut Park.

Game Grades: FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake 3rdegree.com (a very good FCD blog)
I did not see all of the match so grades won’t be forthcoming, but from what was witnessed it’s pretty obvious that it was more of the same.

Please note that Cooper’s fantastic strike came yet again from a ball behind the defense that allowed Kenny to run into the box. Again, it was a fantastic goal and came from Rocha’s smart, quick decision making - but it highlights this team’s total inability to score a goal via a build up from midfield.

Other RSL & MLS news

Beltran and Seitz named to U.S. U-23 roster RSL Media Relations
U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team head coach Peter Nowak has named the 22 players who will participate in the Toulon International Tournament in Toulon, France, a squad that includes a pair of Real Salt Lake players - D/M Tony Beltran and GK Chris Seitz. The bulk of the U.S. team will arrive in Toulon this Thursday, May 15, and will have five days of training before their opening match against Turkey on May 21, at 3:30 p.m. local (7:30 a.m. MT). However, Beltran and Seitz will travel with their Real Salt Lake teammates to Denver for Thursday’s Rocky Mountain Cup clash at the Colorado Rapids (7:30 p.m. kick-off, live on ESPN2) before departing for France on Friday morning.

The Commissioner Speaks web.mlsnet.com
Like many of you, I watched the recent episode of ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption when co-host Michael Wilbon vilified the practice of MLS fans throwing streamers at opposing players when they’re getting ready to take a corner kick. PTI showed video of Red Bulls midfielder Claudio Reyna with dozens of streamers around him. Wilbon, who has been a supporter of MLS and the sport of soccer in the past, was literally outraged at this practice and referred to it as ‘minor league.’ Clearly, I disagree.
(this article has some nice comments from Garber’s visit to Salt Lake)

Steven Goff’s “The Good, The Bad, The Coyote Ugly” blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider
THE GOOD
*Columbus scoring three goals in 10 minutes to win its fifth straight and improve to a league-best 6-1-0.
*After two losses and four ties, the two-time defending champion Dynamo has a victory.

MLS Weekend: No Threat Of Relegation ussoccerplayers.typepad.com
Red Bull New York, New England, and Houston finally got help from the usual suspects.  Juan Pablo Angel got his first goal of the season, Taylor Twellman made his 2008 debut for the Revs with a game winner against Chivas USA, and Brian Ching and Dwayne De Rosario got their first goals seven weeks in.

SBI MLS Power Rankings: Week Seven soccerbyives.net
As if the Eastern Conference wasn’t already strong enough, Juan Pablo Angel and Taylor Twellman finally opened their goal-scoring accounts to give yet another boost to the stronger of the two MLS conferences.

Yes, the domination of West by East continued last weekend, with East teams going 3-0, all on the road, against the West. The standings don’t lie. The two teams with the best records in the West, Colorado and FC Dallas, would both be in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. Wow.

MLS Philly makes hires as it grows web.mlsnet.com
Keystone Sports and Entertainment, LLC, just became a whole lot stronger. And more experienced. The ownership group for Major League Soccer Philadelphia 2010 announced the hiring of two more key executives on Monday — Rob Smith as director of operations and Dave Debusschere as chief financial officer. Both executives will officially begin their assignments on June 2.
( I really could care less about the hires, but check out the link for sketches of what their stadium might look like, very cool)

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May 12, 2008 by f4denz.

Pregame

It was wonderful sunny day with temps in the mid 60’s, and nothing better than soccer at Rice Eccles Stadium in front of 12,000 plus fans to enjoy the festivities. RSL is without a couple of familiar faces, Carey Talley is no longer with the team, traded to Chivas, and coach Jason Kreis is out serving a one game suspension for speaking out in a critical factor of MLS officials. RSL is going with a bit of a different look, they have move Chris Wingert up into the midfield, and moved Nat Borchers to the outside of the back line, Dallas also is going with a different formation playing more of a 3-5-2, putting more a more offensive effort as they are really looking for better than a road draw.

1^st half

Dallas comes out quick and gets a corner kick a minute into the action, but all it results in is a high shot from distance that sails over the goal. RSL appears to be challenged by the extra Dallas body in the midfield, but are looking for a way to get through the clogged middle and into the attack. Early efforts by Nat Borchers attacking up the side, gets a ball into the box and a shot by Espindola goes just wide of the box. That is followed quickly by a shot by Kyle Beckerman from about 25 yards out that gives Sala a little grief but he recovers to make the save, TV coverage gives a nice shot of Jason up in the box with a radio, so much for harsh suspension. Both teams are really looking for a rhythm in the midfield, Dallas is a bit more deliberate in their attacks, while RSL is looking the more aggressive of the two side, In the 10^th minute the RSL attack was clicking and the result is a great ball in by Wingert, headed on goal by Espindola and Sala is there with another save, who has over 250 minutes without giving up a goal and 3 clean sheets so far this season.

Dallas is looking for something; they have shuffled Alvarez and Cooper to different sides, so Morrow must see something that he thinks he can take advantage of. Javi drives a shot from long range and it goes high over the goal, did you know that with four assists that Morales is tied for the MLS lead? In the 18^th minute Dallas mounts their best attack of the match, as Cooper passes the ball to Thompson inside the box, but Abe’s shot goes high over the net and the threat is averted. I have to say 20 minutes in and the match is fairly even, I like the play of Olave and Borchers who have kept Cooper fairly well contained, Beckerman and Espindola look like the two best RSL offensive threats. Morales again gets a shot off and goes near post and one more save by Sala, Dallas seems to be trying more long balls, while RSL is working the ball through the midfield for their attacking chances. A handball in the 24^th minute and RSL had a chance from the 20 yard line, and the shot by Morales hits the pole, bounces back into the field of play, Kenny Deuchar dives for hit, but misses and Dallas clears the ball and ends the opportunity. A long ball from Kenny gets past the Dallas defense, Sala comes out to slow down Morales, but he misses the ball and it falls to Morales’ feet and he puts it into the back of the net 1-0 RSL. Dallas tries to answer off a free kick, but Rimando is there for the save, and the threat is avoided, interesting fact the team that has scored first in MKS this season, they have not lost 33 wins, and 7 draws, but not a single defeat for the team that scores first.

A horrible free kick by Alvarez misses everything on goes out past the end line, Dallas tries to attack again and Cooper fires a shot from 25 yards out, but it goes wide of the net. RSL looks a little rattled as Dallas has really stepped up their attack as they try to answer the RSL goal. RSL gets a couple chances off some decent midfield play from Morales, but nothing comes of it, and Dallas gets a counter in the 36^th minute but it results in a shot that is easy pickings for Rimando. Dallas tries another attack by a great slide tackle by Olave breaks it up, but Dallas tries again and a Thompson shot poses no threat, you can see that Dallas is playing much more aggressively. RSL does their best to counter and gets a corner kick on a great second effort by Beckerman, the ball gets into the box, but no one gets a touch on it. In the 40^th minute Williams comes in for Olave, who appears that he might have gotten a slight injury, he had an ice pack on his knee as he went into the locker room at the half. RSL gets their 5^th corner of the match in the 41^st minute, and this one gets cleared by Sala as there is a traffic wreck in the box with Borchers, Cooper and Sala all ending up on the ground. RSL is doing a good job of closing down Dallas when they get in the RSL final third, and RSL is doing a decent job of passing in the middle third. Both teams look like they are ready for the half to end and get a break and re-energize for the second half, and yes Samba Gringa is just as annoying on TV as they are in real life. I really hope they are a RES memory when we move to the new stadium. Interesting note to the match, Dallas has the youngest team in MLS this season, and RSL is the second youngest team, so this could be a couple of teams that become very familiar with each other over the next few years. The half ends 1-0 RSL.

2^nd Half

RSL comes out with a quick attack, it is clear that the aggressive style that Jason has started RSL playing in recent weeks is something the players are embracing, I know it has made the matches much more enjoyable to watch. A free kick for RSL in the 47^th minute, but nothing comes of it as Dallas wins the ball back and counters, but both teams have struggled to get any real attacks going in the first five minutes of the second half. Dallas is doing a better effort of trying to control the ball in the midfield, and less attacking via long balls, so far they don’t have much to show for it. RSL on the other hand gets a great chance on a long ball from Williams to Kenny, who passes it back to Beckerman, and his first touch lets him down and no shot results, Dallas counters and gets a good look at goal, but Rimando is there once again to shut them down. Another quick ball into a great position for RSL, and a shot from Morales bounces off Rocha and RSL gets another corner, but nothing comes from it. RSL is doing a nice job of getting wide balls and crossing them into box, but so far either the final effort has failed or there has been no one there to do anything with the ball.

Kenny puts forth a nice effort coming down the side, but his crossing pass is deflected and Sala clears the ball. Dallas counters and on a long ball Cooper gets the ball and makes an incredible shot putting the ball near post past Rimando, who had no chance at that ball and we are now tied 1-1. The remaining questions are how will RSL respond, and is Dallas a one trick pony with just Kenny Cooper as their only real offensive threat? A cheap shot from Moor on Espindola as he spikes him on the ankle, the match is getting a bit more physical as both teams are looking to get 3 points instead of one. Dallas is playing better in the second half, but RSL gets a great chance in the 61st as Dema beats Sala, but the Dallas DP Davino is there to clear the ball which was headed for the open goal, they dodged a bullet on that one.

Wow I love that Rocha took a huge dive when Beckerman touched the back of his neck, someone please give him an Oscar cause that was horrible, unless Kyle knows the Vulcan death grip that was a Olympic diving effort. A great long ball by Dema goes just a bit too long and into Sala’s hands, but it was a nice effort. RSL again seems to be regaining the battle for possession and the attacks have really come better from the team with possession, the long ball seems to have lost its punch after the Cooper goal. RSL again in the attacking third with possession, Dallas counters with Alvarez, who appeared to be offside but the flag stays down, but Dallas loses the ball without getting a shot. Cooper looks like he is almost out of gas, I really wonder why Dallas continues to look for the long ball, I also wonder why Dax McCarty hasn’t seen any action tonight, and he looked great in the U23 qualifying and earlier in the season for Dallas. In the 72^nd minute Beckerman gets a shot on a ball served up by Dema, but Sala is just in the right spot one more time. RSL attacks again as Williams get the ball and Sala comes out and breaks it up, but RSL gets the ball right back and Andy plays the ball over the defense, and Kyle Beckerman taps it past Sala for the goal 2-1 RSL.

Dallas gets a corner kick in the 75^th, which is cleared without too much trouble, but Dallas gets it back and then turns it over in the midfield. RSL gets a free kick about 10 yards outside the box, Williams serves the ball into Deuchar, who was held and tackled, but the call goes against him. Dallas has a nice attack in the 78^th minute, and despite a good effort to get the ball in the box, they simply don’t have anyone to finish, and they lose the ball. Williams has been all over the pitch tonight in both the attack and defense, this is the Andy we saw in 2006, and I like having him back into the form that we are used to. The clocks shows 80 and RSL is up 2-1, but RSL has given up goals to Dallas in the last 10 minutes in every matchup last year, but this is a very different RSL. Williams drives a beautiful cross into Beckerman, who onetimes it on goal, a tough save by Sala who juggles the ball and then regains control to make the save, that one would have put the match away, but Dallas is still holding on. RSL has 9 players behind the ball in order to repel the Dallas attack, but you can see they are still looking for chances to attack. Findley gets into the box in the 86^th minute but the ball goes off a Dallas player, and RSL gets a corner kick out of it, but with protecting the lead in mind, they only have one player on the receiving end in the box. Dallas is continuing to attack, and gets a free kick from about 8 yards outside of the box on a hard foul by Dema, but Kenny heads the ball away, what he has lacked in offense he has made up in defense on set pieces.

Well we have reached full time, and the fourth official has shown three minutes of stoppage time, RSL gives the ball away in the middle of the pitch, Dallas drive the ball into the box and Borchers clears it away. Dallas puts the ball over the end line and a goal kick for RSL, Rimando takes his time as the first minute of stoppage time has passed, and as the match winds down the Dallas announce team expresses their surprise at how good RSL is, again it is mentioned that they look like a playoff team. Meanwhile on the pitch Dallas is putting a lot of pressure on RSL in the attacking third, but so far their chances have fallen just short, and as the clock shows 3 minutes have past an offside call against Dallas, and the official blows his whistle this one is over and RSL wins 2-1. Salt Lake picks Williams as their man of the match and the Dallas announce team picks Kyle Beckerman who had the match winner.

Summary

Well this was a great match, both teams put forth solid efforts. I thought Dallas relied too much on the long ball, and gave up far too much possession in the midfield, while RSL controlled the tempo and the possession all match long. RSL failed to convert some chances, but overall their aggressive style of play was enough to get the win tonight. I thought Olave and Borchers put in great effort on defense, I was not real impressed with the Wingert at midfield experiment, and when Olave went out and Wingert moved back, I thought RSL controlled the ball a bit better. So at home RSL has not lost a match, but Thursday they travel to Denver for the first match in the Rocky Mountain Cup, can RSL pick up their first points on the road? I will make my preview and pick on Wednesday.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

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