Real vs. Chivas semi live blog cast
June 14, 2008 by f4denz.
Last minute changes
Well both sides appear to be making some last minute changes for Chivas out is Brad Guzan to the USMNT and back in is Sacha Kljestan who is back from the USMNT and Johnathan Bornstein is back in the midfield for Chivas and Joe Kennedy will get his first MLS start in goal. RSL appears to be moving Dema Kovalenko into the D-mid role and giving Matias Cordoba a start to provide an additional offensive punch.
Sorry I didn’t update the Chivas formation, but only so much time since the announcements.
On the bench for RSL are the following players: Seitz, Nimo, Joy, Movsisyan, Cutler, Nunez, and Mantilla. For Chivas they have: Parker, Suarez, Thomas, Wicky, Braun, Flores and Vaughn.
The first couple minutes each team get some attacks in, but nothing too impressive. I see Rimando wearing some very strange colors with a blue top and yellow shorts, I really think he should go back to the green and white kit, which is very popular with fans. RSL is not letting any major attacks result in scoring chances, Chivas at home usually get a lot of opportunities early so the first 10-15 minutes are going to be important.
15th minute
Olave is looking good so far in defense as both teams have the midfield really clogged up, so a lot of turnovers and a couple fouls, but nothing impressive as neither side has a shot yet, wait chivas get a shot as Atiba puts it very high and out of danger.
25th minute
A yellow card to Deuchar for a challenge on Curtin, but RSL is starting to control the possession and create a couple chances in the offensive third of the pitch but still no shots for RSL. According to the stats the shot by Atiba has been ruled to not really be a shot, so 20 minutes in neither team has a shot. Chivas get a good counter but Dema breaks it up and the ball is back at midfield and RSL wins it back. RSL is really taking it slow and easy, since the midfield is so clogged up, they may have to play a couple long balls over the top for Kenny and Robbie to get the Chivas back line to play more honestly and not push up so high. A nice ball played in by Wingert to the head of Deuchar and a save by Kennedy to win the corner kick. No threat from the corner, but RSL keeps the ball in the Chivas half of the pitch.
35th minute
Yellow card to Nagamura for a foul on Beckerman, the free kick drops the ball in the box and RSL can’t convert the chance. Like last week the chances are coming, can RSL convert against a green keeper? Chivas are getting a little bit of possession and they try to play a long ball into the box, but too long and goal kick for Rimando. Chivas get the ball back and are trying to set up an attack, but are struggling to get the ball out of the midfield, and RSL wins the ball back as it goes out of bounds off a Chivas player. A foul in midfield will give RSL a free kick, so far the fouls are 8 by Chivas and 3 by RSL, but that is to be expected. Chivas counter, Atibia brings the ball up, but it is broke up by Wingert, then given away and Atiba runs onto it but it is played out by RSL and Chivas get a corner kick and it sails over everyone and it ends up being a goal kick for RSL. The action is picking up and Robbie shots and scores on a great run. 1-0 RSL in the 34th minute, a super play Morales keeps the ball alive and makes a great pass to Beckerman who makes an even better pass to an onrushing Findley, who beats Talley and Kennedy for the goal. Only 6 times has the team that scored first lost, 10 ties and 57 wins, so our first road points may just come tonight.
45th minute
Chivas get a good chance but Rimando is there to clean up the ball, but Chivas counter again and another corner kick for the goats. It is played into the box and over the goal by Olave, another chance for Chivas and it is played on the ground to an unmarked Talley, who shanks it high over the goal. Interesting tidbit from the announce team, Carey Talley is keeping his house in Salt Lake and plans on living here after he is done playing. Chivas is playing with a bit more urgency now that they are down a goal, but the middle of the pitch is still clogged up. RSL is still getting the better of the possession, but it is not as one sided as it was earlier in the match. Chivas get the ball deep in the RSL third, but Borchers is there and clears it back out to midfield, which is still very clogged with both defenders and forwards playing very active roles in the middle of the pitch. A foul by Morales gives Chivas a shot from about a yard outside of the box, the most dangerous chance for Chivas, but it is played into the wall and RSL takes the ball back and play a very long ball over the top to Findley, but this time Kennedy rushes out to stop the play.
I have really like the efforts of Beltran and Findley in the first half, RSL is playing well and they appear very well prepared for Chivas, this looks a lot like the team we saw in the second half of the San Jose match. A Chivas attack results in a ball cleared by Borchers and Razov dives trying to get a PK, but a good no call as we move into the stoppage time of the first half. That is it the first half is over and RSL leads Chivas 1-0 at the Home Depot Center. RSL has controlled the majority of possession and played well in the first half, lets see how the two teams adjust at the half.
1st half stats
Shots: RSL-2 Chivas-1
SOG: RSL-2 Chivas-0
Fouls: RSL-6 Chivas-9
Offsides: RSL-1 Chivas-2
Corners: RSL-1 Chivas-3
But the real stat that matters is the score and RSL has a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard.
Around the MLS
So wow did I have a couple matches wrong, first Columbus showed up and beat down KC 3-0. DC United exploded again and beat New York 4-1 in a horrible rainstorm. TFC picked up another win at home 3-1 over the Rapids, in a match where the TFC keeper got an assist on a Ricketts goal.
55th minute
OK a couple of changes for Chivas as Harris and Bornstein are out, and Justin Braun and Raphael Wicky are in. Chivas is trying to get their offense to be a bit more effective and it looks like they are pushing RSL a bit more but RSL still seem to be controlling a bit more possession, but you can tell RSL is a bit more defensive in their attack, making sure they don’t give up easy counters. Braun crosses a ball on a Chivas counter, but Olave clear its out but not far enough Chivas get their first shot on goal but it goes directly to Rimando. Chivas is slowing it down a bit and trying to maintain some possession of the ball, the ball goes into the box and Chivas has a great chance (close to offside) but Braun puts the ball over the top of the goal, but Chivas is much more effective with their attacks in the second half.
Talley plays a good ball in but Olave is there, Chivas end up with a free kick and a great shot by Razov, but Rimando shows his stuff and makes the save as RSL dodges a bullet. RSL is having trouble keeping possession and it may be time to bring in some fresh legs, but without Williams it would either be Cutler or Nunez coming into the midfield, perhaps bring Cutler in and move Dema back up and Cordoba go to the bench after a good first half, but is struggling in the second half.
65th minute
You can tell the second half has been mostly Chivas the number of shots is now 5-2 in their favor, and they have made Rimando make his first saves of the night. RSL get a free kick from the midfield line but nothing comes of it, except a Chivas counter but again Olave is there to break it up. Findley goes up the side, in the box, but loses the ball after being muscled off it by the Chivas defense. Interesting change Movsisyan in for Cordoba, not at all the conservative move I expected, let’s see how this affects RSL’s structure. Well a quick attack by RSL, Morales attacks but no support as Kennedy cleans up the ball, and a quick counter by Chivas as Braun gets a long ball and goes one on one vs. Rimando, but the shot is right at Rimando and he makes the save. You can see a bit of desperation from Chivas, but RSL is going to have to remain calm and get some possession of the ball.
75th minute
Findley is really working hard tonight and is making a statement that he wants the starting role even when Espindola is healthy, when we get everyone back to 100 percent, we are going to have a lot of offensive options. I really want to see RSL get more chances to take shots, if not it will be very hard RSL to keep a lead, as Chivas is really pouring it on in the attack. Wow every time a RSL player has the ball there are two or three Chivas players rushing to regain the ball or slow the attack. Dema is down on the sideline it looks like it might just be a cramp, so RSL is short handed for a couple minute, OK he is back up an into the match, so RSL is back at full strength. Wow, ball played into Razov, but he is offside, RSL is really back on their heels and need something to spark a little offensive life back into them. Another long ball played into Braun, and very close to a foul in the box, but it is cleared out again, but RSL is playing with fire and it could really get ugly as the clock gets closer to 90:00.
85th minute
Well RSL is getting handled in the last twenty minutes, and I am not sure what RSL can do in order to get some more possession, but I am very fearful if they try to sit back and just defend for the last 15 minutes of this match. A long ball into the box and Kenny Deuchar goes one on one with Curtin, but nothing comes of it, but the play is brought back, but RSL has got to either get a second goal or get some possession of the ball, because this is getting scary. Chivas gets in the box and Wicky has the ball but everyone collapses on him and the ball gets cleared wide by Yura. RSL gives up the ball deep in the Chivas end, and once again Chivas is on the attack, but RSL wins the ball back as Findley one more time is there at the right time. I wonder how long until Chivas brings in Flores who has 3 goals in their last four matches? What will be the next move by Kreis, well it is Nunez in for Deuchar who has a yellow card and this will bring a little more pace and hopefully provide RSL a chance to control the possession a little bit more as we enter the final ten minutes of this match. So far I am impressed with Yura playing in the midfield; he is working very hard and helping out a lot on the defensive effort, nice to have him back. One more time Rimando cleans up a lose ball in the box after a Chivas free kick, Nick has earned his keep so far tonight.
Final Five Minutes
Well with five minutes left in regulation RSL is grasping to a 1-0 lead over Chivas, if they hold on they will get their first ever win over Chivas at the HDC, and will move up to a tie for 3rd in the Western Conference. We know that teams have taken advantage of RSL in the final minutes of matches; Movsisyan is down and appears to be cramping up, or stalling, but they are bringing out the stretcher, but he is up and seems to be favoring his right knee. RSL is making another change and bring in Cutler for the injured Movsisyan. A long ball by Chivas is played back to Rimando by Olave as Chivas is pulling out all the stops in attack, and wow the 4th official is saying 4 minutes of stoppage time, this is not a good thing for RSL. All 11 players for RSL are on their own half of the pitch, as RSL plays every ball they can as long as they can, but now they are putting together a bit of an attack, Cutler takes the ball towards the corner and is fouled hard as the clock moves past 90:00 and close to the first RSL road win of 2008 and it would be sweet against hated rival Chivas. RSL is actually countering well with their fresh legs and this is keeping Chivas from mounting too much of an attack and keeping the ball more in the midfield. Chivas has a free kick from midfield, but the first ball is played out of danger, and Chivas drive the ball back towards the RSL goal but it goes over the end line for a goal kick as the clock gets closer and closer to full time. RSL play a long ball into the Chivas end of the pitch, but after holding it for a few seconds they give it back, but Dema is fouled and RSL has a free kick from deep in their own third of the pitch, which Rimando plays long, it goes to Kennedy but too little, too late. RSL picks up a huge win over Chivas on the road 1-0.
Final Stats
Shots: RSL-4 Chivas-8
SOG: RSL-3 Chivas-4
Saves: RSL-4 Chivas-2
Fouls: RSL-14 Chivas-23
Goals: RSL-1 Chivas-0
Real Salt Lake vs. Chivas & MLS week 12
June 14, 2008 by f4denz.
Still looking for first road points
RSL has gotten points from every home game but after five matches on the road they do not have a single point going 0-5-0, and scoring only 3 goals while giving up 12 goals. Earlier this season when RSL faced off against the goats at the HDC earlier this season it was a 3-1 loss in a match that saw the play much closer than the final score. Both sides have improved their play in recent weeks Chivas is 3-2-0 in their last five matches, while RSL is 2-2-1, but both sides will be without some major pieces either due to injury or to international duty.
Goat’s have offensive issues
Chivas will be missing their most potent offensive weapon as Sacha Kljestan will be with the US National team, and goat’s will also be without last years leading goal scorer as Galindo is still out with an injury. Also missing will be Aleck Eskandarian and Alex Zotinca who are both on the injured list. A couple Chivas players will have to be on their best behavior due to yellow card accumulation, both Jesse Marsch and Atiba Harris will be suspended with their next yellow cards. RSL will have to find a way to deal with Jorge Flores, you know the kid getting all the attention after scoring 3 goals in 4 matches, but the attention isn’t from that it is from how he got a shot with Chivas. He was the winner of the 2007 Sueno MLS reality show, that lead to a spot with Chivas and the rest has been as they say “history”.
A larger concern for RSL will have to be the play of Jesse Marsch who has 4 goals this season, and former RSL player Atiba Harris who may only have one goal, but has 3 assists and has proven to be able to be a match changer for Chivas. One big question for both sides is will Ante Razov finally find his form, he has been on the pitch for under 500 minutes so far this season and has just a single goal. The final thing RSL will have to keep an eye on is what reaction will Carey Talley have to facing his former side for the first time since being traded for a future draft pick, RSL fans have seen Talley at his best and worst in the last two seasons but which will we see tonight?
RSL again without some key pieces
Anytime RSL fans see Kenny Cutler starting in the midfield they should be worried, and with injuries to Nathan Sturgis and Andy Williams on national team duty with Jamaica, it looks like Jason will favor Kenny over moving Dema to D-mid and giving Cordoba a start. Not the move I would have made, but perhaps having fresh legs later in the match are part of the plan to get our first points of the season on the road. RSL will also be missing Movsisyan, and Espindola is listed as doubtful.
Then add in the known road ills of RSL this season and it will be tough to get a win (something RSL has never done against Chivas at the HDC), let alone get a point, which they have done only once when facing the goats on their home pitch. A key will be RSL continuing to get chances on goal in their last two matches RSL has taken 34 shots (15 against San Jose and 19 against KC), half of those 17 have been on goal (10-SJ, 7-KC), they will need to put up similar numbers if they want to put and keep Chivas on their heels. Findley will need a match like he had against the Quakes, while Deuchar needs to remain calm and keep on working hard.
Kenny Deuchar has been incredible to watch, and while he has not scored as many goals as we would have liked he has been a player that opposing teams are being forced to deal with. On offense teams must mark him, a shame is that he is getting fouled more often than is being called, I fear that his size, physical play, and refusal to dive have cause officials to overlook many of the fouls committed against him. Kenny has shown the ability to work himself into the midfield to release other players to move forward into attacking positions, and on defense he gets back to help out his teammates both on set pieces and during the course of regular play.
This match will be a struggle of midfields, RSL has gotten 6 goals and 8 assists from players who will make up their midfield this evening, and they will be facing a Chivas side that will feature players with 9 goals and 5 assists. Whichever team wins the battle of the midfield will have to face strong keepers, despite each having a GAA of over 1.5, Rimando and Guzan are among the best in MLS. I expect that the defense of RSL will step up once again, with Olave in the back line they have given up only 2 goals in their past 3 matches.
This match will be a rough and tumble affair but I do believe the result will be much closer than the meeting these two sides had in April, and while I fear RSL will not be able to pick up a win on the road, I am going to pick them to get a point as this one ends in a 1-1 draw.
Game Guide
The Rest of the MLS week 12 action
Win-Lose-Win-Lose
That is the record of both TFC and the Rapids over their last four matches, but wait these two have more in common; both have given up 15 goals so far in MLS action, both have five wins in MLS play this year, and both are missing some big names on international duty (8 players in total). First up, the Rapids will be missing: Coundoul, Matroeni, and Ihemelu all are on national team duty, Erpen is suspended for a red card, and Petke, Hughes, Colaluca, and Burciaga Jr. will likely miss the match with injuries. Next up TFC who are without: Brennan, Sutton, Guevara, Edu, and Marshall are on national team duty, but Toronto has no other players out with injuries or suspension, so they are probably in a little better shape as far as the level of talent they will be able to put on the pitch. I expect a good battle in the midfield as Ricketts and Robert will work the outside for Toronto, and Christian Gomez will attack in the middle for Colorado, which should make for some exciting play, but TFC has not lost at home and Colorado has only one result on the road, with both teams playing with back up keepers an entertaining 2-1 match is my pick with TFC keeping their undefeated streak at home alive. Will TFC fans (who will have all day to drink and get fired up for the match) obey the new rule on streamers? I doubt it, but what can really be done to stop them, something to keep your eyes on during this match TFC fans vs. Commissioner Garber a match within the match.
Game Guide
Battle of Eastern cellar dwellers
At the start of the season who would have thought going into week 12 of the MLS season that mighty DC United and the dual DP Red Bulls would have a total of 8 wins between them? New York has one of the worst offenses in MLS this year with just 11 goals, and now with their leading scorer Jozy Altidore gone to Spain, will Angel regain his form of last season, if not who will become the go to guy for the Red Bulls? DC United has the worst defense in MLS having given up 22 goals and having the worst goal differential in the league at -6. Both sides are coming off wins last week and United has the more impressive victory beating the Fire 2-1 in Chicago. New York has a number of players listed as questionable: Angel, Parke, Reyna, Richards, Echeverry, and Francis Doe is on national team duty. United still are without Ben Olsen and Jeff Carroll due to injuries and will be missing both Bryan Namoff and Marcelo Gallardo who were given read cards last weekend but in front of the Bara Brava and Screaming Eagles I expect United to put together enough to win this match 2-1. Sidenote: keep a close eye on the officials Kevin Stott is the man in charge for this match and he has had some very questionable outings this season.
Game Guide
Wizards hope there’s no place like home
After 6 matches on the road, you have to expect that a large crowd will be on hand for the return of the Wizards to Community America Ballpark, but you have to feel bad for a team forced to play in a minor league baseball stadium. The real upside is that KC get to face once powerful Columbus, who have fallen on really hard times in recent weeks. You could point to the three straight loses for the Crew (two at home), but more significant is the fact that the boys in black and yellow have not scored a goal in their last four MLS matches. Columbus is also going to be shorthanded as Frankie Hejduk is on national team duty, Brad Evans is suspended for a red card last weekend, and Ezra Hendrickson, MIglioranzi, Moffat, and Padula are out with injuries. KC has a couple players out with injuries, Souter and Watson, but otherwise their roster is untouched by suspensions or players on national team duty. The struggle will be to see which team can score, the Crew have their struggles mentioned above, but the Wizards have the second worst offense in the MLS this season with just 10 goals (only expansion San Jose are worse with 9). This one will probably be a 0-0 draw, but I am going to give the Wizard fans a break after not having a match to attend for 6 weeks and pick KC to win 1-0.
Game Guide
Best of the West vs. Worst of the West
The LA Galaxy are the best in the west with 17 points, which would put them in fourth in the East, but they get to face expansion side San Jose in another match being played in a baseball stadium (McAfee Coliseum-home of the Oakland A’s). Both sides have won two of their last three matches, but LA will be without Landycakes who has 9 goals on the season (despite missing several matches), which is the same number as the entire San Jose roster. There are lot’s of players gone on both sides with injuries and international duty, but lets be honest on this one, the Galaxy have Beckham, and the best player on the San Jose side is Joe Cannon their keeper. This one despite looking like a match on paper will be more likely a repeat of their first match up this year, where San Jose played well but lost 2-0. I see no reason to think this one will be any different, so I am picking the SoCal boys to win 2-0 over the NoCal boys.
Game Guide
Can Dallas put out the Fire?
No, it is that simple Dallas is struggling with just a single win in their last eight matches (1-5-2) and they have to face the leagues best defense, the Chicago Fire have only allowed 8 goals to be scored against them this year. The Fire will face off against 4 offensive threats from Dallas, forwards Cooper (6 goals, 1 assist), Oduro (4 goals, 1 assist), Alvarez (3 goals, 2 assists), and midfielder Andre Rocha (5 assists). But the Fire have their own firepower (get it) with Barrett (5 goals, 3 assists), Blanco (4 goals, 6 assists), Rolfe (2 goals, 2 assists), and Thorrington (3 goals, 1 assist). This one could be very exciting and it should be fun to listen to in Spanish, I have a feeling Chicago win this one 3-2 over Dallas in an entertaining match.
Game Guide
US vs. Barbados
Come on while this will be entertaining, coming off matches against England (#9), Spain (#4), and Argentina (#1) it will have to be a bit of a downer facing Barbados (#121) for the US national team as they start the qualifying process for the 2010 World Cup. At least this match, unlike the last 3 should see the US have no problem scoring goals. I am going to say that no US player will get a hat trick, but the US wins this one 6-1.
OFF MY SOAPBOX