Real Salt Lake vs. New England semi-live blog
Prematch
So I figured instead of watching the match, then doing my blog, I would try to do both. I am going to try to update every 5 to 10 minutes during the match with new updated info.
The starting lineup for RSL is Yura & Clint up top, the midfield is Morales, Beckerman, Johnson, Williams, the defense features Joy, Borchers, Russell, and Wingert, of course in net is Nick Rimando who has played every minute of every MLS match this season (so has defender Nat Borchers). The teams swap ends and they are ready to play, the weather is 52 and clear in New England, so we are ready to go. This could be a huge match for RSL and their playoff chances.
1st 10 minutes
Well a quick mistake by RSL when Joy falls down, but Russell is there to clear the ball over the endline and New England gets a corner kick, but nothing happens from it. Taylor sneaks behind the RSL defense, but the offside flag goes up. RSL looks a little rough at the start, and they seem to be slowing down a bit and trying to get their early match gitters out by playing a little pass the ball around in the midfield. RSL’s first chance is a shot from Yura, that is deflected over the net and RSL gets their first corner of the match, Reis fumbles it and RSL could not get to the ball as it bounced around. New England counters and Dube gets off a shot based on Smith making a great run, but the shot was high and wide and RSL gets a goal kick.
Well RSL is looking a lot sharper than they did the first couple minutes, good passing and good communication, Yura is flagged for an offside and New England gets the ball back. Wow the official is letting them play so far, just as I say that the first foul of the match just as the clock hits 8 minutes, wow followed quickly by a foul by Nyassi on Morales which draws a yellow card. RSL gets a free kick in the midfield and they try to build on it, but it goes long and Reis grabs the ball and it is back to New England. Wow I like the matchup between Mathis and Joseph.
10-20
A RSL free kick starts the second ten minutes but as they get to the NE third, they give up the ball and the Rev’s are attacking, and Wingert commits a foul on Smith (kinda weak) but New England gets a free kick about 6 yards outside the box, but it is played long and crosses the endline for a RSL goal kick. Wow, Morales catches the NE defense sleeping and he puts the ball in the back of the net after Reis comes out to play a ball just outside the top of the box. RSL is up 1-0.
Well since signing his new contract we have seen Javi stepping up in the way he did earlier in the season, and now he leads the team with 6 goals and 11 assists. Wow after getting tangled with Joseph, Morales gets a yellow card, it is clear that the official wants to be a big part of the match, which is something that happens too often in MLS matches.
RSL is back in the attacking third, but loses the ball and the Rev’s are trying to move the ball back into the RSL third of the match. Funny Dunny is already questioning the role the official with play in the match. Another Yellow card, this time for Smith for diving, 3 yellow cards in the first 19 minutes and these cards will have a huge impact on how the players can play for the rest of the match. RSL is continuing to attack and have a throw in deep in the NE third, but the ball goes out and it is back to NE., and then back out to RSL, now a hand ball and back to NE, as the clock hits 20.
20-30
So far the chances have been fairly even, and there is the fourth yellow card of the match in the 21st minute this time to Ian Joy, and this is getting a bit out of hand as the action is stopping every minute due to the official, and Dube gets a shot but Rimando is there for the save. Now RSL has a throw in just at the edge of the NE third of the pitch. This one is getting very chirpy, and I have to imagine it will only get worse as we move along. A offside flag on Taylor give RSL the ball back.
Wow a great ball by Clint as he leave the ball for Javi, but Javi was just a step too slow and New England gets the ball back. As they move towards the RSL end, the ball goes out for a NE throw in, but Beckerman gets the ball back and plays it deep into the NE end, but nobody is there and NE is back on the attack. Another offside call against NE and RSL gets the ball back again. So as we head towards the 30 minutes RSL and New England are playing fairly even but RSL has the 1-0 lead. Andy takes a shot, but it rolls slowly to Reis, who plays it out but NE is again offside as Ralston is behind the backline of RSL. Yura is getting beat up on almost every ball as it is clear New England knows he is a big threat. So far everyone from RSL has been involved and they are putting in a good team effort so far, a couple mistakes but nothing that has cost RSL. RSL gets a throw in at midfield and end up playing the ball all the way back to Nick as the clock hits 30 minutes.
30-40
A hand ball is called on Joy and NE gets a dangerous free kick, but Borchers clears it out of the box, but RSL gives up the ball and NE counters but Joseph puts a very weak effort on goal and Rimando gathers it up with no problem. NE is playing in long balls and trying to get past the RSL defense that way. Yura gets the ball out wide, plays it to Wingert who plays it into the box, but Mathis is pulled off the ball and NE pushes it out for a RSL throw in. RSL is doing good keeping the possession of the ball and causing NE to have to run after the ball.
RSL gets their second corner kick of the match as Andy Williams takes the corner but it isn’t great but ended up at the top of the box, but nothing dangerous comes of it. Offsides call against Andy in the NE box. So far the RSL backline is doing a good job of marking NE and using the offside trap to break up their attacks. Both teams are battling but not getting too many chances, a nice play by Ralston to get clear but the ball rolls to Rimando and he cleans it up again. This is one of the best halves I have seen for RSL all season as far as their passing goes, really impressive how they are handling the ball tonight. Kyle gets the ball in deep and Andy’s header is just a bit high.
40-half time
I like the efforts of Mathis and Yura tonight in helping out the defensive effort, that is that team defense that RSL used when they had that great run earlier this year and were helping out Rimando in many of his 8 clean sheets. NE is doing a good job now of organizing their attack but Smith gives up the ball and then commits a hard ugly foul, and should count himself lucky he didn’t get his second yellow card of the match. After a RSL goal kick, NE is back on the attack as the clock gets really close to 45:00, NE had a great chance but Kyle is there to break it up and plays the ball out for a NE throw in. Wow 3 minutes of stoppage time, how the heck did they come up with that? Russell does a great job of getting back and breaking up a NE attack and the ball goes over the end line for a RSL goal kick.
Jason is up on the sidelines, and not looking happy despite his team being ahead 1-0. A good ball by Kyle trying to get to Clint or Yura deep in the box, but it is broke up by NE. The Rev’s have looked more dangerous the last 10 minutes than they have at any time all night and RSL is lucky to escape without giving up a goal as Taylor has a good look in the box, but the whistle blows and RSL goes into the locker room up 1-0.
Halftime
Well each of the 4 matches being played are 1-0 with Chivas being up over DC United, the Crew up over the Galaxy, and TFC up over New York, and all them are at the half. Each of those are results that could help RSL out with their playoff hunt, as DC United and New York continue to fall lower and lower in the wildcard playoff race. If these results stand RSL would 37 points, while United would have 33 and New York 35, and while we would not gain on Chivas for second, it would put a lot of pressure on Colorado who will face off against Houston later tonight.
There are only 5 days left until the opening match at Rio Tinto stadium, they did a nice little piece about the construction and history of the project. Everyone I know is so excited about the new stadium, and if this result stands RSL will come in with a good two game winning streak, an increased chance of making the playoffs, and a full stadium of yelling and screaming fans cheering them on.
Second Half
No changes to the RSL roster, things look good when RSL leads at the half they are 5-1 (thanks for that stat Bill). Russell comes from nowhere to get the ball away from Nyassi, who was in a very dangerous position, New England’s corner kick goes right to Nick and he catches it with ease. Well the Rev’s are coming out will all guns blazing as they look to get back into this match early, Nyassi takes a shot but it is cleared out by Beckerman, but NE gets a corner kick chance. Ball is headed over by New England and Rimando gets a goal kick, Russell plays a long ball but nobody is there and NE gets the ball back.
50-60
Well as good as RSL looked at the start of the 1st half, New England looks that good at the start of the 2nd half, can RSL hold it together and get back to the team controlling the possession and pace of the match. RSL got lucky, as they couldn’t get the ball out of the box, as Kyle tries to clear it lands for Dube who fires a shot that goes just high. RSL counters and a late offside flag goes up on Yura, but that is what RSL needs to do in they want to take the pressure off the defense. Smith crosses a ball, and it almost makes it to Twellman but goes out for a corner kick. Joseph heads it to Albright, but it goes just over the goal and RSL again dodges a bullet.
Albright heads the ball over the endline and RSL gets a corner kick, Mathis takes it, nice ball but Reis punches it out and NE counters. Well RSL appears to have gotten their act a bit more together than the first 10 minutes of the second half, as they are getting a bit more of the possession and attacking chances. A dangerous foul and NE gets a free kick just a yard outside of the box, a two man wall, but it was cleared out by RSL. Yura gets the ball but the defense of NE is up to the task and nothing comes from the chance, a good counter by the Rev’s but Nick comes out to clean up the ball and restart the RSL attack.
60-70
Wingert just shut down Smith, and it bounces around inside the box and finally the whistle blows on a hand ball called against Joseph. Well New England simply is putting forth a ton of effort to get back into this match, and Rimando makes a big save as Taylor got behind the defense and had a good chance for the ball. Nicol is up and yelling at the 4th official. RSL counters and Yura plays the ball back as there was no support for his attack, and again NE counters and Rimando is there to stop the attack. RSL get another counter, and Robbie is set to come in, but Clint is going to take the corner first but it goes out of bounds and the sub is made as Clint is out after a good effort and in comes Robbie Findley to give RSL an offensive boost.
RSL needs to slow down and control the ball a bit more, they are getting caught giving up the ball. Robbie got the ball deep, he should have shot the ball, but he passes to Yura who can’t make the turn and the RSL attack is shut down.
In checking the scoreboard, Chivas now leads 2-0 over DC, and New York is now even 1-1 with TFC.
Castro is on the sideline waiting to check in for New England and out goes Nyassi, so now each team has used one of the subs as we get close to the 70th minute. Another offside against New England and RSl gets to restart the offense as the clock hits the 70th minute.
70-80
Well both teams are looking a bit tired, but neither is willing to stop attacking, and Kyle takes a shot on goal but it goes right to Reis who makes the save. Andy Williams gets a great ball from Morales and Andy puts the ball into the back of the net and RSL are up 2-0. What a great time for Andy to get his first goal of the season, and for Javi to get his 12th assist of the year. I know that GBS has had a great season for Columbus, but Javi has to get some votes for MVP. Reis makes a great save on a shot by Robbie, as it is pushed wide and goes off the bar and RSL gets a corner kick. The first corner kick goes out of a Reb, but this time Javi’s shot goes just wide and a goal kick for New England.
Scoring updates TFC has pulled back ahead 2-1 over the Red Bulls on the second goal of the match by Barrett, and Chivas is now up 3-0.
Damm, Ralston gets a goal as the RSL defense could not clear the ball out of the box on the original effort, and Steve Ralston makes us pay and New England is back in the match as it sits at 2-1 in the 78th minute.
RSL has to pay attention, NE scored 3 goals against Chivas a couple weeks ago in the last 15 minutes of their match to win 4-0, so RSL has to continue to attack, but they don’t and too many people standing in the box and not attacking the ball and Twellman shots and puts it into the back of the net and just like that it is a 2-2 match and RSL are on their heels. New England is putting the petal to the metal and controlling this match.
80-90
Javi attacks, passes to Findley and Andy plays a ball to Robbie but it is just a bit behind him and New England counters, but a offside call stops the Rev attack. RSL is trying to reorganize and calm down, a cross by Findley, Yura attempts to bring it down, but it goes out. RSL makes another sub, Yura is out and Kenny Deuchar comes in, Kenny takes a shot, but Reis makes a huge save to stop the shot.
It is nice to see that despite giving up two quick goals, they are still fighting and attacking. Deuchar loses his footing and falls as a great ball is played into him by Javi, wow this match is opening up and both teams are going for the win, there is nobody playing for a draw in this one. New England is pushing a hard attack, a couple balls played into the box but RSL is lucky to clear them, but New England keeps on coming, and finally they win a corner kick. Raltson’s ball is cleared but RSL can’t get it out of their third of the pitch, finally RSL attacks but Findley’s pass to Deuchar is great, but the shot goes just wide and there is nobody from RSL following up on the attack. New England comes back down and Ralston takes a shot that goes just over the bar.
This is nerve racking as the clock creeps towards 90, 3 minutes of stoppage time and Javi’s cross is just too high for Deuchar. OK I haven’t seen what happened but a red card to Williams and a yellow to Heaps, who should have gotten a red as well. Borchers steps up and clears a Twellman shot. It is just a matter of seconds until the final whistle and RSL brings in Tony Beltran for Morales. RSL drives a long ball in towards the goal but the whistle blows and we are done with a 2-2 draw.
This is a match that RSL played well in the first half, got totally outplayed in the second half, but still should have gotten all 3 points on the road. They had too many good chances and it took just a couple mistakes to cost RSL two critical points, and this will make the matchup against New York all the more important. As United goes down to Chivas 3-0 and New York loses to TFC 3-1, so RSL now has 35 points, the same as New York, and DC United stay at 33. If the playoffs started today, RSL would be in either as the 3rd place team in the West or as a wildcard team (currently we would be behind New York since they won the only matchup between the two teams so far this season). A lot will depend on how the Houston vs. Colorado match goes tonight.
RSL will be without Andy Williams on Thursday night, the red card will keep him out of uniform for the match, but both Wingert and Beckerman who were in yellow card peril will be eligible for the matchup as will Jamison Olave who will be back from a yellow card suspension.
OK that was all I could handle for tonight, so I am going to go watch the Colorado match and see how the Western conference stacks up at the end of the night. A tough draw that really has to feel like a loss for RSL, but RSL could come out of the weekend with a better shot at the playoffs than going in but if they had managed to hold onto their lead it would have almost been a lock for RSL.
OFF MY SOAPBOX
This entry was posted on October 4, 2008 at 7:21 pm and is filed under The soapbox. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.