Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose III
June 17, 2008 by f4denz.
Two teams warming up
So San Jose is 2-2-0 in their last 4 matches, impressive for an expansion team. Even more so when you consider they are one of only two teams to beat Columbus at Crew Stadium, and then a victory over two time defending MLS Champions Houston as the Dynamo visited their old home town. But wait RSL is 2-1-1 in their last four and coming off their first road win of the season and their first ever win over Chivas at the Home Depot Center. So this rematch of just a few weeks ago could be more closely contested than the last time, but I don’t think much more.
Your team is a natural disaster
The Eathquakes are coming off a beat down by LA in front of almost 40,000 people last weekend in a match played in Oakland, it was a very one sided match in which Edson Buddle was too much for San Jose’s defense to handle as Buddle got his second hat trick of the season. San Jose still have the worst offense in the MLS this season scoring only 9 goals while their defense has only given up 17 goals tied with RSL for best defense in the West.
There are still a number of injuries affecting the Quakes lineup, Ayres, Glinton, Philippe, and Garcia are all either out or doubtful. Jovan Kirovski is questionable, and Kamara is still on national team duty. Also affecting how they will play is Corrales being one yellow card away from suspension, so possibly 1/3 of their limited scoring punch could be removed from playing. They do get Ivan Guerrero back from international duty, but still have to play Ryan Johnson out of position at forward, since I guess that there is little confidence in Smarte. The defense of the Quakes did well against the Crew, earning their keeper a clean sheet, but in their last 3 matches they have given up 6 goals while only scoring 3.
Who are these guys
I think this is the most appropriate chant I have heard in a couple years, the answer is also appropriate “They’re RSL”. RSL is still undefeated at RES, they have a three game unbeaten streak going on, they have their first road win (over the goats is almost as good as a win over the crapids) and the defense appears to finally be giving Nick Rimando the support he is worthy of. Our defense is now tied for best in the West with San Jose having allowed just 17 goals in 12 matches, but the recent form is even better allowing only 1 goal in the last 3 matches while scoring 4. A big part of the recent improvement in defense is the play of Jamison Olave, who finally appears to understand what role coach Kreis wants him to play, a challenge for a player used to a very different system and with very limited English.
RSL will be without some players who have shown that they can make a huge impact, out with injuries will be Sturgis, who is still dealing with the hamstring injury (which was more serious than first expected), still out is Fabian Espindola whose knee injury is not a structural injury is a very painful injury and is proving hard to recover from even for the tough player from Argentina. When Yura Movsisyan came out late in the match versus Chivas on Saturday it was due to a reinjured knee, it will keep him out for Wednesday but he should be available for Saturday. RSL will also be without backup keeper Chris Seitz who is on national team duty for the US, and Andy Williams is still with the Jamaican national team.
We should see more of Cordoba after what was a good first half last weekend, hopefully his improvement will be similar to that of Olave on defense, if so we should see our midfield continue to improve as the season move along. I like the way Dema plays at D-mid, he is one tough customer in front of our back line, and we know he has a cannon to use on long range shots. I am also expecting some more highlights from Robbie Findley, he was able to use San Jose to re-establish his place on the starting eleven, and hopefully this will see him continue to thrive against them. Even if San Jose tightens their coverage on Robbie, they don’t have an answer for Kenny. Last match they simply committed a ton of fouls against him, and the shame is that the officials didn’t call a lot of them. I expect some good balls played in to Deuchar, as he also has been slow to adjust to MLS, but as we have gotten him better chances he has looked very threatening.
The streak continues
Listen San Jose is an interesting team, you never know what squad will show up or how they will play, but too little has changed in 18 days and RSL is playing better each week. I expect a better match, but I think RSL will prove to be too much once again for San Jose to handle; this one will end up 2-1 with RSL controlling the match, but a much improved overall effort from San Jose. This will give RSL sole possession of second place in the Western Conference going into this weekends action.
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