Real Salt Lake still in first-live vs. Fire
July 19, 2008 by f4denz.
Despite the last minute attempts, Landycakes shot as the clock expired went off the goal post and that means that with 23 points the Galaxy will not retake first place, and if Colorado can beat Dallas they also would have 23 points pulling them even with RSL and LA. A result tonight would secure first place for RSL heading into the All Star break, and in Chicago a result is possible, so it will be an exciting night.
Prematch
Once again Nunez and Movsisyan will start up front, with Morales, Beckerman, Williams, and Kovalenko in the midfield and the back line will feature Joy, Olave, Borchers, and Wingert in front of Nick Rimando. This is similar to the lineup that proved to be too much for Columbus, and should provide a look that Chicago hasn’t seen before from RSL. Nice to see Bill and Dunny working the match tonight, they are a fun team to listen to.
0-10 minutes
It looks like a good crowd at Toyota park, and once again Jason is up in the box serving the second game of his suspension for dissent, despite US Soccer agreeing with the very complaints made by Jason. The first couple minutes each side it looking to settle down and get into their flow, this is a big match for both sides, Chicago has to start getting results to keep up with New England, and RSL is desperate to make sure people know that their first place position is no fluke. An early corner kick by the Fire and only a great effort by Andy on the line keeps the ball out of the goal, wow RSL escapes a early threat.
Well so far the RSL defense has been up to the challenge, and Andy takes RSL’s first shot that goes off the cross bar. Damm, a great ball in by Wingert goes just wide when Beckerman puts a shot that deflects off the fire defender. On the corner kick, Yura gets a ball played in well and a big save by Busch is the only thing that keeps RSL from pulling ahead early.
10-20 minutes
Well Blanco is up to his old tricks as he dives based on a touch (if you can call it that) from Dema, I say if he is going to go down like that, then foul him hard and make him pay. The ball played out wins another corner kick for the Fire, and the scramble results in a RSL throw in. The RSL attack is stopped by an offside call against Ian Joy who was off by a couple feet, but a good effort getting forward by the defender.
A big ball into the box, but nobody from RSL was there, but nothing comes of it, the Fire counter is shut down by Olave. RSL is doing a bit better keeping the ball and playing in the Chicago half of the pitch, they have won a corner and the ball is played in by Morales but it goes high over the goal off the head of Movsisyan. The ball gets played back in and Yura fires a shot that goes off a fire player and the 3rd corner kick for RSL, but again it fails to get much directly off the set piece, but RSL keep it dangerous and get another corner kick, this time it falls to a Fire player and they counter but it is shut down quickly by RSL. Wow RSL gets yet another corner kick as a great ball played in by Yura to Tino, but the ball is played out by the Fire, this time the ball falls again without too much of a threat but the follow up is a ball that runs out of bounds to give Chicago a goal kick.
20-30 minutes
Wow RSL dodges a bullet as Barrett makes a bad play and the RSL defense clears the ball out of trouble, it has been nice to see RSL controlling the majority of possession, they have to do a bit better with their passes but so far they are the shaper team tonight. The Fire has a free kick from about 30 yards out, but Olave clears the ball, but the Fire keep possession and are looking more threatening that they have in the match.
So far Tino has looked a bit over matched, but the rest of the team has been playing well, a hard two footed challenge has Andy limping as he gets up slowly. A foul at midfield when Mapp comes in late and from behind, it probably could have been a card. RSL mounts another attack but Morales plays a ball in but nobody is there to receive it and it goes out for a goal kick. I have to say that the RSL defense has not played as well as they have in recent weeks, but so far no real threats from the Fire.
30-45 minutes
Wow Tino gets a great attacking chance, plays the ball into the box but both RSL players had moved away from the attack, and on the counter the Fire get a super chance as Rolfe can’t finish after he beat Rimando, talk about dodging bullets.
It really looks like RSL is the more confident team, the Fire seem a bit desperate when they have the ball, RSL get the ball into the box and at Yura’s feet but Soumare is able to muscle him off the ball. RSL has a free kick from about 40 yards out, but it goes out of bounds and a goal kick for Chicago, a couple bad RSL passes is really the only thing that has been wrong with the RSL effort so far, they have been the better side going into the 40th minute, but with the score still 0-0 it doesn’t matter who the better side is, as neither have gotten the ball into the back of the net yet. Nice picture of Jason calling down instructions to the bench, it is clear that he sees something that RSL can take advantage off.
Wow Barrett fires a dangerous shot on goal despite having Olave all over him, but the ball goes off the post and RSL escapes the most dangerous attack from the Fire of the night. It appears that this has fired up the Fire and they are pushing forward and look more dangerous than they have all night, as the ball has been in the RSL final third for the last couple minutes, wow this is proof that the RSL defense is both good and lucky. A hard foul by Soumare and Yura is down on the pitch and appears shaken up, but he is getting back up, but clearly he is shaken up, and off the free kick Dema fires a long shot that goes high over the goal and into the stands. One minute of stoppage time is indicated and it appears that both teams are really ready for the break and a chance to refresh just a bit and get reorganized.
Halftime
Here are the halftime numbers as RSL leads in shots and shots on goal, as well as cornerkicks, but with the score tied 0-0 this could go either way. RSL has had the better of play, controlling more of the possession and simply playing better at this point of the match, I am also impressed with the efforts of Yura and Dema, both who seem to be playing with a bit extra energy tonight.
After seeing the Thursday night coverage of the KC vs. Columbus match on ESPN in HD, I am really hoping that MLS decides to move forward and broadcast all matches in HD, it simply makes the matches look so much better. I know that our new stadium is going to have some great features for the media, and I really hope that all the organizations that broadcast MLS matches put forth the effort to show the beautiful game at its finest in HD.
Second Half
One change at the half for RSL as Robbie Findley comes in for Tino Nunez, which is a great change for RSL as Tino seemed to struggle a little bit. So let’s hope that Robbie’s speed will prove to be enough for RSL to get on the scoreboard.
45-55 minutes
Sure enough within the first couple minute Robbie takes a shot, it goes high but still is going to force Chicago to adjust how they are playing on defense. The midfield is really crowded with players from both sides, but RSL still appear to be the better side early in the second half.
Wow the RSL defense is stifling, not just the back line, but everyone comes back to help out on defense and that has been the key to impressive efforts over the last couple months. Fire get a free kick from just outside of the area on a hand ball, there are a lot of bodies inside the box, but the ball is headed over the goal by the Fire and a RSL goal kick is the final result.
55-65 minutes
The Fire seem to be picking up the effort as the second half moves on, and now the battle is to keep possession of the ball and the first yellow card goes to Prideaux for a tackle from behind on Kyle Beckerman, off the free kick the ball is bouncing around, but nothing for RSL and the Fire counter has been closed down quickly.
It is clear that the Fire are now controlling more of the possession, and I expect that RSL will have to make another change as Yura seems to have simply been taken out of the offense, perhaps bringing in Deuchar will restart the offense. Joy has received a yellow card, not sure what the call is for, but each team now have a yellow card. The Fire corner kick is played high and out by Olave, so Chicago will just move to the other side for another corner, this time it is cleared out by RSL, but the Fire is looking more dangerous, and I wonder how long we will have to wait to see another change for RSL, this is where not having depth at offensive mid will hurt RSL. Findley gets a good chance and Busch gets enough of the ball to bounce it off the post and out of danger. The RSL corner poses no danger as it is cleared out to midfield.
65-75 minutes
Well RSL has gotten a bit of energy with Robbie stepping up the offensive pressure, but neither side is really looking dangerous as RSL has just two shots on goal and the Fire still do not have an official shot on goal. Well the change has been made as Kenny Deuchar comes in for Yura who put forth a great effort tonight. Wow the Fire get their first shot on goal and Rimando is up to the task as he stops a shot by Mapp. Wow the Fire are clearly not going to be happy getting a draw at home and are really attacking and taken 3 shots in the last couple minutes, can RSL figure out how to get into the attack?
There is another RSL chance as a ball played in by Findley, Beckerman tries to deflect the ball and it is just not enough, but nice to see RSL getting back into the offensive effort. RSL is moving forward but Findley can’t outplay 5 guys and Chicago is collapsing a ton of players onto the ball each time RSL gets it. RSL is doing a bit better at connecting some passes together, but a nice counter by the Fire but the RSL defense is up to the task and finally the ball goes out off Olave for another corner kick. A yellow card on Dema for a tackle on Blanco, a little confusion on the part of the officials but instead of a corner, the Fire get a free kick from just outside the box. Wow a red card is issued to CJ Brown who isn’t even in the match, talk about a bit strange.
75-90 minutes
Well this match has had a lot of strange things but still without any goals, so will either side figure out how to get the ball into the back of the net? Wingert took a shot but nobody was on the near post to help out, the Fire counter ends up with a ball in the hands of Nick Rimando and back out to the midfield. The Fire takes advantage of another dive by Blanco to get a free kick from just outside of the box, the shot is wide of the goal and doesn’t make Rimando do any work other than to collect the ball and prepare for a goal kick.
RSL plays the ball into the box, but nothing threatening, and the Fire counter but then play the ball back out to the midfield line. The ball goes off a RSL player and the Fire get another corner kick, played in by Blanco, and out by RSL, the second corner ends up in the trusty hands of Nick Rimando, this is clearly where RSL is in trouble we simply do not have anyone on the bench who can come in to spell any of our midfielders. RSL get a free kick from just outside the box deep inside the Fire third, can RSL do something with it? Nope it is played out off the first man, but back in by RSL, now they have a deep throw in, the end result is a shot by Dema that goes wide. Just a few minutes left and RSL is looking more dangerous than at any other point in the second half, the Fire get the ball deep in the RSL end of the pitch but it goes out for a goal kick. This is funny the ultimate dive guy, is trying to get a call on Rimando for stalling, it appears that Blanco doesn’t own a mirror, because nobody is more of a match stopper than Mr. Blanco.
RSL gets a chance but the counter by Chicago and Rimando makes a big save on a shot by Mapp again, the corner goes wide but Chicago keeps possession of it, but nothing more comes of the effort. The final RSL sub as Beltran comes in for Andy Williams, wow our only midfield sub is a defender, but with just a few ticks of the clock going for a point on the road is a smart move and the Fire offense has been stepping up the pace. Now another corner kick for the Fire, but the Fire head the ball out of bounds and RSL gets a throw in. The 4th official shows 3 minutes of stoppage time, as Rimando makes another save.
Wow, RSL seems to be very flat footed these last few minutes, not sure if they are simply tired or what but it is clear that the energy is gone from the RSL effort. Another corner for the Fire, cleared out of bounds by Deuchar, and the throw in is cleared long by Joy, but now the Fire attack again, as Olave and Soumare battle, but the Fire keep attacking but the RSL defense has been up to the task so far, but can they keep it up. Yes they do, the whistle blows and we end up with a 0-0 draw, which makes for a fair result considering that you had two of the best defenses facing off. I expected a bit more from RSL but a point on the road means that RSL will stay in first place at the All Star break.
Well the numbers are even almost across the board and so was the 0-0 scoreline. This reinforces what I have said all along with the departure of Cordoba and injury of Espindola, RSL needs to pick up a midfielder who can bring in an offensive effort off the bench, and I for one am more than willing to believe that perhaps a player like Clint Mathis could be exactly what we need. He isn’t my first choice, but you know that if he is willing to be a team player that we could really use someone who can bring in energy at the end of the match, it was clear that something was lacking from the RSL effort in the final 30 minutes. Still the defense has only given up 3 goals in 9 matches and that is one impressive effort, the offense has to find a way to get better but against the overall best defense in the league RSL made Chicago work hard to keep the clean sheet for their keeper as well.
10 days til TFC comes to town, and sitting in first place in the West for another week. Not too bad at this point of the season.
OFF MY SOAPBOX