Monday RSL & MLS news
June 9, 2008 by f4denz.
Real Salt Lake vs. KC
RSL: Shots all for naught sltrib.com
Shot after shot, the Real Salt Lake players fired away at goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. From distance, in close. Off free kicks and corners, well-placed headers and tantalizing through balls in the run of play. Midfielder Javier Morales even tried a bicycle kick.
Wizards end road trip with draw kansascity.com
Unable to score, the Wizards won’t bother to nitpick. At least Real Salt Lake also didn’t find the net, as the teams battled to a 90-minute 0-0 draw Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Real Salt Lake, K.C. wind up scoreless in SLC deseretnews.com
Chalk Saturday night up as another missed opportunity for Real Salt Lake. Despite long stretches of dominating soccer at Rice-Eccles Stadium, including 19 shots for RSL, it failed to capitalize on those plentiful chances and was forced to settle for a 0-0 draw against Kansas City.
(Interesting that there is no mention of the incredible saves made time after time by Kevin Hartman, which were the only thing that kept RSL off the scoreboard.)
Real ties K.C. to remain unbeaten at home seattlepi.newsource.com
Nick Rimando made five saves, including a great diving stop in extra time, as Real Salt Lake remained undefeated at home with a 0-0 tie Saturday against the Kansas City Wizards. Rimando’s shutout was his second of the season. Real Salt Lake (3-5-3) snapped a two-game losing streak in Major League Soccer and a three-game losing streak in all competitions.
MLS Week 11 news
MLS Weekend: Sending Off ussoccerplayers.typepad.com
In a game that probably won’t make the officiating highlight reel, DC United got the upset against Chicago in Bridgeview, but San Jose were the ones with the shock result.
Commissioner’s statement on thrown objects web.mlsnet.com
NEW YORK — Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber issued the following statement today regarding the Columbus at the Crew versus Revolution game on May 24.
“MLS has conducted an investigation into events occurring at the game between the Columbus Crew and the New England Revolution on May 24th at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. During that game, objects were thrown onto the field by spectators on a number of occasions, in some cases striking players on the field of play. A number of fans were ejected by security staff as a result of these actions.
As a consequence of this review, MLS and its teams will take the following steps:
1. MLS and its clubs will undertake a comprehensive review of security measures in each MLS facility to ensure that sufficient measures are taken to prevent fans from throwing objects from the stands at players or officials on the field. Additionally, MLS teams and stadiums will fully communicate to all fans attending MLS games the League’s policy that spectators in breach will be ejected and prohibited from attending future games.
2. MLS has reviewed the increasingly coordinated use of streamers at some MLS stadiums to affect play, particularly as a distraction to visiting players as they attempt to take corner kicks. MLS teams will communicate to their supporter groups MLS’s existing policy - that streamers are not to be used to impact on-field competition or thrown toward a player, referee or stadium staff member. While the spontaneous use of streamers and confetti as an expression of fan enthusiasm will not be prohibited, the continued practice will be kept under review. Should issues continue regarding the use of streamers, MLS will have no option but to prohibit streamers.”
ON MY SOAPBOX
Wait a minute, one event in the US and all of a sudden action has to be taken? If this is a response to the racial taunts, then punish the fans and team in question, but do not over react to the situation. How can the action of the fans in Columbus cause this harsh of a response, when the fans in Toronto have thrown crap on the pitch every match since their home opener and have used streamers to distract players for over a year. Now an American team wants to offer their team the same advantage and this is how the commissioner responds. Piss poor if you ask me, in this league you have begged for fan interaction, and up to last week streamers were an acceptable part of what you have asked for, in fact wasn’t Garber who defended this type of behavior just weeks ago? Is he admitting he was wrong, or is this what too many fans will see as a reaction to a couple of fans in Columbus who were out of line. Wow talk about going over the edge, Hey Don, get a grip on reality. What are you going to do when you ban streamers, and the fans simply steal TP from the restrooms, ban that? Would you rather they throw empty beer cups, bottles, or worse? How about this, find the guilty fans in Columbus and ban them for life, and let the rest of us have a great time at matches.
OFF MY SOAPBOX
MLS Operating in a Vacuum majorleaguesoccertalk.com
We want this league to succeed. For the future of the sport it must not only survive but thrive. However, as the European Championships heat up, Brazil is about to face Argentina in a critical COMNEBOL qualifier, the African nations spend over a month in World Cup qualifying, and the home nations of MLS begin qualifying next weekend, the league continues to operate each and every weekend as if nothing else is happening in the world of football, and as if nothing else matters. Not only does MLS play through World Cup qualifying and the European Championships, but it actually increases its schedule during this period.
MLS Saturday Round-UP goal.com
Emilio’s Stoppage-Time Goal Lifts D.C. United, San Jose Wins
Last year’s MLS MVP Luciano Emilio scored a goal and registered an assist in the second half to give D.C. United a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire on Saturday night.
Soccer is running around in circles oregonlive.com
Never, in all the rest of the years we’ve got, or in any of the years we’ve already had, would you see the Los Angeles Avengers, of the Arena League, matched up against the USC Trojans, for a chance to play the Seattle Seahawks. Football doesn’t work that way.
Nothing works that way. Except soccer.
(An interesting take on the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, worth the read)
With a lot of the worldwide and US based soccer media focused on International matches and the Euro’s, there isn’t as much MLS news as normal. If you want me to start providing updates and info on the Euro’s just leave me a comment and I will start to include those updates as well for the rest of June.
OFF MY SOAPBOX