June 3, 2008 by f4denz.

Quakes fall once again at RES

So in two meetings at RES (one LHUSOC and one MLS) RSL have scored 7 goals by 6 different players, 32 shots, and 20 shots on goal, perhaps that is why the fans chanted “can we play you everyweek” at the match on Saturday. Good thing is RSL gets to play San Jose again at RES in just over two weeks, oh if we could get a couple more matches against them, perhaps the playoffs would just drop in our laps. If anyone questions home pitch advantage, please remember that as much as we have “pwned” San Jose here, they were coming off a beat down of defending MLS champions Houston just a week ago. The announced attendance of 15,977 is more than generous, actual looked more like a lite 10,000 if that.

If you looked at the first half, you would have easily been able to tell you were watching the bottom two teams in MLS at this point of the season, but whatever happened between brining in Robbie Findley, and halftime speeches or adjustments, we need more of it. But let’s start with a review of the first half:

1^st half review (who sucks more)

RSL started with possession, and took advantage of a couple quick fouls called against the Quakes and just a minute and half in they had a free kick from just outside the box, the shot hit the wall and the official blew his whistle for a hand ball in the box against San Jose to award a PK. Morales took the shot, and it was a bit weak and Joe Cannon guessed right and was able to stop the shot and hold onto the ball, oh the agony of a great first chance blown by a bad attempt on a penalty kick. When San Jose had the ball in the RSL final third, RSL often failed to do a good job of clearing the ball into the midfield, something that has been an issue too many times this season.

Early in the half Dema looks the best for RSL on the pitch in the first 10 minutes or so, and on the San Jose side it is Ramiro Corrales that looks best in both defending and attacking. The first fifteen minutes really have both teams playing a lot in the middle third as neither team has a lot of possession, but a slight edge probably has to go to San Jose, who I am sure were uplifted by the missed PK early in the match. I find it interesting that even the Fox Soccer commentators are mentioning how RSL has failed to get the ball into Deuchar, and that has hurt his production. It also has affected his frustration level, as he is getting very physical defenders on him and when he is fouled he simply is not getting the calls that other forwards in the league would get, it really is only a matter of time before that frustration will boil over and Kenny will throw a elbow or commit a hard foul and get a red card for his behavior.

Twenty minutes into the first half, and RSL is doing a better job of controlling the ball and the result of that is more chances on goal and being able to push up and keep the ball in the San Jose half of the pitch. In the 24^th minute a light foul results in a San Jose free kick from just outside of the box, but it is put right into the wall and no damage from the free kick. Ryan Johnson, who has been pushed into playing as a forward has done a good job of using his speed to put himself in dangerous positions, but no real damage has been done by his attacks.

As the match hits the half hour mark, RSL is doing a better job of controlling the match, the pace, and the ball, all of which is resulting in RSL being able to play more aggressively and move our back line all the way up to midfield in the attack. San Jose is now trying to play long balls over the top, but the result is that the ball goes back to RSL very quickly and then back into the San Jose half of the pitch. The frustration is showing up as San Jose’s players really are taking some cheap shots, in the 36^th minute a clear foul on Deuchar in the box on a free kick isn’t called as RSL fails to convert on a great chance to get a lead in this match. As the second half gets close to the end, you can see two very distinct things, RSL is stepping up the attack, and San Jose is starting too really to commit some bad fouls. It appears that some point late in the second half that Espindola has picked up an injury as he is moving slowly after a shot finds the keeper on the near side of the goal. RSL has owned the last 10 minutes of the half, and while they have been unable to score, they are looking much better than in the first 15-20 minutes of the half.

2^nd half review (RSL steps up)

As the second half starts, you can see RSL attacking at a much higher rate as just a minute in Wingert is putting a ball into the six that is scooped up by Cannon. The RSL defense steps up to get the ball back, and then Morales plays a long ball to Findley and he takes a long shot from about 25 yards out, and it goes in near post as RSL takes the lead 1-0. Morales now is tied for the league lead in assists as he gets his sixth assist on the Findley goal. No slowing down for RSL as they continue to press forward in the attack, and control the possession of the ball. It looks like San Jose is a bit rattled, and in minute 53, Kyle Beckerman puts a shot on goal that Cannon has to dive to save, on the following corner kick, a ball into Olave, who just misses, then as the ball is played back in Deuchar is tackled in the box, but nothing gets called as Kenny has had two clear fouls committed on him in the box. San Jose can’t get the ball out of their own half for long, and RSL is simply taking full control of the match.

In the 56^th minute it is Kenny Deuchar vs. two men, and as he reaches the edge of the box, he tries to go through them, and gets his feet tangled as he loses the ball, wow did that look like Yura, who has had issues tripping over the pitch and his own feet in the box a number of time this season. It is nice to see that on set pieces when Kenny can get back and play defense, he is solid in the air as he helps the RSL defense. Morales plays a great ball to Findley, who plays it back to Morales, who shots and puts it past Cannon to give RSL a 2-0 lead. This time the assist goes to Findley, on what is one of the best plays I have seen from RSL in a very long time.

It is nice to see that with a two goal lead that RSL is continuing to attack as the match moves past the 65^th minute, San Jose is getting very little of the possession and even fewer chances to put together any type of attacking effort. Ah nice to hear Reed and the RCB in the background, and no matter what anyone else says that chant sounds like “funky mentos”. Dema pops off a shot on goal, and it seems that every RSL player is looking at how they can get into the attack. Poor Joe Cannon is got to feel like his defense has left him stranded as the RSL attack just keeps on coming at them, for every four or five RSL attacks, San Jose puts together a much weaker counter. For RSL it doesn’t matter if it is long balls over the top, attacks up the wings, everything seems to be resulting in either a shot on goal or San Jose having to commit a foul or put the ball out of bounds.

I have to give credit to the RSL defense after falling apart in the last 15 minutes against Dallas, a solid effort through the 72^nd minute tonight, here is hoping it ends as solidly as it has started. RSL continues to attack, and Andy Williams is taken down inside the box, and a yellow card is issued to San Jose. Dema takes this PK and it finds nothing but net as he gets Cannon to go the wrong way, and an easy shot to give RSL a 3-1 lead with 17 minutes left in the match. This is the point of most matches when RSL would drop back and pack the defense in an effort to protect the lead, but not this time, RSL continues to attack and may be trying to erase their -5 goal differential all in one night. Findley gets another chance, and his attempt to get the ball to a open Deuchar is blocked by the defender, but you have to love the fact that there is no back down in RSL in this match, they are out to prove something, if not to themselves, then to the rest of the league, and to the Salt Lake City media. I have to say that like in the Dallas match that Olave really is impressing me, the combination of him and Borchers in the central defense appears to be very solid and turning into what RSL has needed to replace the now retired Eddie Pope.

The work rate of Kenny Deuchar is also impressive, and it will only be a matter of time until the officials begin to notice how many fouls they are missing when it comes to Kenny. I love that he is willing to get involved in the midfield battle, and when needed he is getting back in defense to help out there. Robbie Findley has shown that he deserves some more playing time and could we see him up top with Deuchar as the starter against KC? Depending on the fitness of Espindola, it sure seems like it would be a wise move to give Robbie the start. As the clock shows 83 minutes played, RSL is still attacking, and finally San Jose is getting a couple counters and Cunliffe is able to put a shot in from just inside the box on a nice shot that just beats Nick Rimando.

RSL however is still attacking as a well played ball in by Williams is headed just over the top by Findley, it is nice to see that RSL is not just sitting back and let San Jose bomb away shots on goal, but rather they are doing their best to keep the ball in the midfield and when they can attack. You have to love the “Nick Rimando, green and white army” chants, once again props to the fans for doing their best to offer support to the boys on the pitch. Now in the 88^th minute, RSL appears to no longer be looking for shots but rather to just keep the ball in the San Jose half of the pitch. As the clock winds down the RSL defense is standing strong, and RSL is still controlling the possession of the ball and this match is as good as done. The Fox Soccer announce team mention that they will be back this fall and that it may be the first match in the new stadium, so it looks like the rumors that RSL will play their two October matches in the new stadium may just be true.

A great effort in the second half for RSL, if they can play a full match like this then they will be more than a handful for anyone in MLS.

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June 3, 2008 by f4denz.

MLS News

The Good, The Bad, The Coyote Ugly Week 10 blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/
THE GOOD
*By scoring against Columbus, Chivas USA’s Jesse Marsch, in his 13th season, has more goals (four) than either Luciano Emilio or Jozy Altidore (three apiece).
*Christian Gomez’s midfield control and perfect ball to Conor Casey for Colorado’s first goal. It was Gomez’s fifth assist.

The Brian McBride Situation explained usasoccer.blogspot.com
I’ve been reading a lot of speculation regarding the US soccer legend’s return to MLS, and I thought it would be good to write a small post detailing the facts of the situation.
1) McBride will play for the Chicago Fire.

MLS Weekend: International Absences ussoccerplayers.typepad.com
Month three of the MLS season begins and it’s easy enough to draw some hasty conclusions.  That comes courtesy of a weekend where too many teams had too many missing players.  Still, it doesn’t explain what happened to Columbus.

SBI MLS Power Rankings: Week Ten soccerbyives.net
That sound you hear is some Western Conference powers starting to awaken. Before the 2008 season began, the Houston Dynamo and Chivas USA were considered the best teams in the West, with a meeting in the conference final a strong likelihood.

MISL Disbands, could Ironmen be gone for good? Soccerbyives.net
The Major Indoor Soccer League has disbanded in a move league officials say is a temporary one made in order to reorganize the league and prepare it for more changes and possible entry into new markets.

Soccer’s Sounders get a Microsoft Kick online.wsj.com (I know this one is old news, but how often does MLS get mentioned in the Wall Street Journal?)
Ten months before their first game, the Seattle Sounders of Major League Soccer have signed only one player and still don’t have a coach. But they have landed a major sponsor — Microsoft, which will emblazon the front of the team’s uniforms.

RSL Headlines

Kreis isn’t on thin ice, not even close James Edward’s blog@ deseretnews.com/blogs
Real Salt Lake president Bill Manning stopped by the Deseret News building this afternoon to have a chat with our editorial board. On hand was our main editor Joe Cannon, editorial writers Marjorie Cortez, Jay Evensen and Jerry Johnson, in addition to business writer Jason Lee and myself. It was a very good one-hour conversation covering a wide range of topics, and in the coming days I expect a business article from Jason Lee in addition to an editorial or two from our editorial staff.

Quakes lack troops, offense in bad loss to Real Salt Lake mercurynews.com
Injuries and national-team commitments forced the Earthquakes to patch together a new-look frontline against Real Salt Lake on Saturday night.
The results weren’t pretty.
The Quakes were lethargic on offense, managing just two shots on goal in a demoralizing 3-1 loss to Real Salt Lake in front of 15,977 fans at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

RSL exposed bleak San Jose future socceramerica.com
Frank Yallop seldom names names when his players disappoint him yet as the Quakes lost, 3-1, to Real Salt Lake Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium he didn’t need to utter a word: the look of resignation on his face as he sat on the bench said it all.

Real Salt Lake: RSL shakes off blues versus Earthquakes deseretnews.com
It was just one of 30 regular-season games, but Real Salt Lake’s players and coaches were fully aware of the magnitude of Saturday’s match against visiting expansion team San Jose.
A loss would’ve been a psychological disaster, and Javier Morales contributed to tension by missing a penalty kick in just the third minute.

Real Salt Lake: Findley’s play the difference for RSL Saturday deseretnews.com
Real Salt Lake’s Robbie Findley had played in every game of the season coming into Saturday night’s match with the San Jose Earthquakes. He had started four of the previous nine games, but mostly, he made his mark coming off the bench.
“Everybody likes to start, but when I come off the bench, I try to focus on giving a little spark to the team, some energy,” said Findley.

Reserves roll to victory deseretnews.com (thanks to DN for doing a good job covering the reserve matches)
Real Salt Lake’s reserves put a whoopin’ on the San Jose Earthquakes Sunday reminiscent of the one the senior squad doled out Saturday night. Matias Cordoba recorded two goals and an assist to lead RSL’s reserves to a 4-0 thrashing of San Jose at Quinn’s Junction.

I will post my weekend review as soon as I finish watching the Chivas vs. Crew match, sometime later Tuesday. Until then

OFF MY SOAPBOX

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