Real Salt Lake jobbed in Colorado but still make the playoffs
October 25, 2008 by f4denz.
I don’t care about the result, it is clear that the horrible officiating that I mentioned in the first half has come to a head in the second half, with a horrible non call on a very clear foul in the box against Yura Movsisyan that should have lead to a penalty kick that most likely would have tied the match. Instead Clint Mathis gets a yellow card for pointing out the fact that the official may have just cost Real Salt Lake their chance at the playoffs. You know it was a horrible call when Colorado supporter Balboa even is outraged at the no call in the box.
Well in a moment that might well define the match, RSL is attacking and Kyle Beckerman makes a horrible pass to give up that leads to a Colorado breakaway that is only broken up by a foul by Borchers, and thankfully Rimando makes a save on the free kick. Once again notice that our big names Javi and Kyle are simply not playing like the leaders of this team, I am more impressed with the effort of Clint Mathis than either Morales or Beckerman. Will Johnson has been nowhere to be seen tonight, and when he gets the ball he has been making some questionable passes. In a scene that seems to point to despair for RSL a deep throw in and RSL has only two men in the box and nobody else charges in to join them as the ball is in the box. My god they are playing to not lose 2-0 as opposed to trying to get a goal and make the playoffs.
I can understand the players being upset at the bad call, but this was a horrible last 15 minutes by RSL, with so many offensive weapons in the match RSL has to do better.
OMG, in the 90th minute RSL have scored a goal and it was Yura Movsisyan cleaning up a rebounded ball on a great save by Findley, but Bouna could not control it and Yura worked hard to get the goal.
5 minutes of stoppage time and Jamison Olave is coming up big as the Rapids push every single thing into getting a goal and steal back the playoff spot.
Folks, RSL is doing their best to hold off a very powerful attacking effort by Colorado and they do it and get a 1-1 tie on the road to claim both the RMC and 3rd place in the West and a place in the playoffs. It should have been a 2-1 win (as predicted) but I will take the draw and the fact that we will get to play at least one more match at Rio Tinto.
Here are the final stats from the match:
So despite being outplayed RSL gets the point on the road and end the season with a 10-10-10 record and 40 points. How many times was RSL the better team but gave up a late goal to get a draw or suffer a loss, oh the justice of finally despite not getting any decent calls and that horrible no call, RSL still proves to have a bit of luck in the form of Yura Movsisyan and get to the postseason for the very first time and they get to face their 2005 expansion rival Chivas. I am hoping that RSL fans will buy up all the tickets and provide a huge home pitch advantage for RSL.
That match will be a 4pm start against Chivas, and coverage will be by Fox Soccer Channel. See you there.
Real Salt Lake: Outplayed, Outhustled, and Outscored in first half
October 25, 2008 by f4denz.
Well it will be up to Jason Kreis to do something to change the way Real Salt Lake is playing after a first half that simply was subpar, because RSL is down at the half 1-0 and lucky it is only one. Colorado got a quick goal by Casey in the 19th minute as RSL gives up a first half goal for the 3rd straight match, and Colorado has dominated the midfield and possession battle. Where is Javi? Of the few touches that Morales had in the first half, most ended with easy giveaways or horrible passes, we need out big players to show up because so far they haven’t done it.
Here are the first half numbers:
As the number show RSL is being out shot, trailing in shots on goal, and goals. This match is really chippy as the whistle seems to be broken and a number of hand balls, fouls and other infractions seem to be overlooked by the officals. I think we will see Andy Williams come in at the half for Dema, and I expect that we might see Robbie Findley in very early for Yura or Clint, both of whom have had chances but failed to convert. Clint actually had the best of the chances as he played a great ball through but Kyle couldn’t turn it into a shot, and Clint’s shot as the half was ending required a huge save by Bouna and the goal post.
Somebody will need to step up in a major way in the second half to help give a boost to RSL, it really should be Javi or Kyle to help control the possession in the midfield and help to create some chances, without that it could be the end of the road for RSL’s playoff dreams.
OFF MY SOAPBOX
Why Real Salt Lake will win and make the playoffs
October 25, 2008 by f4denz.
I am going to start with a bold prediction that Real Salt Lake will get their 3rd road win of the year and claim both the Rocky Mountain Cup as well as 3rd place in the Western Conference and their first ever playoff spot. Final score will be 2-1.
The match up to watch
While everyone is focusing on two matchups in the match (Pablo vs. Javi, and Medhi vs. Kyle), but I think the real battle will be between two very different players, to me it is a question of can “Bounatime” and Yura Movsisyan. Rumors are that Coundoul will get the start in goal, and honestly that is a smart move by the Rapids, Bouna was the starting keeper in the win against Chivas that kept the playoff chances of Colorado alive. Consider that Burpo had given up 10 goals in this last 3 starts (4 against New York, and 3 against both Houston and the Galaxy), so why wouldn’t you start the guy who has a lower GAA?
If Bouna gets the start he will have to face off against Yura who has been working as hard as any forward in MLS over the past few matches scoring 3 goals in the last 4 matches. RSL has only failed to score twice in their last 11 matches and it is clear that the offense has started to come together much better than earlier in the year. Yura is a strong physical player who gets open in ways and places that leave defenses scratching their heads, and with Cory Gibb listed as questionable with a groin injury even if he plays can he slow down or contain Yura? Bouna is a very athletic keeper but often puts himself in dangerous positions and if he does so tonight it will like be Yura who punishes him for any mistakes.
Other things to watch
A couple wildcards for RSL that could have a huge impact on the match, will Clint Mathis get his first goal or assist against the team that RSL traded him to after the 2005 season? Clint has been playing well and creating chances, but has come up just short in getting his name added to the stat sheet, but if you have followed Clint’s career you know that he is capable of doing amazing things in critical matches, and Clint knows how critical this match is he is quoted today in the SL Trib as saying “Unfortunately, we aren’t already there” in the playoffs, “But we’re going into a situation where it’s in our hands. We don’t have to worry about what happens, what kind of results [happen] in the rest of the league. So it’s a good situation for us to be in. It is fun. This is what the game is all about.” That sounds like a Clint Mathis is who much more grounded than the guy who played for RSL in 2005, look for Clint to make a difference in this match and catch fire as RSL heads into the playoffs.
How RSL got Will Johnson is simply a mystery, why would a team like TFC not clamor to get the young player with dual citizenship (US/Canada) and has become a staple on the Canadian Youth National Team? But people in MLS are starting to pay attention, Will has great speed and plays 100% every minute that he is on the pitch, his workrate and never say die attitude have made him a hit with fans after playing in just 8 matches. He scored one of RSL’s biggest goals this season, getting the game winner last weekend against FC Dallas, which brings his total to 2 goals and while he hasn’t gotten an assist Will is a vital part of the resurgent RSL offensive effort and with some questionable talent on the outside of the back line of the Rapids defense (Harvey and Kimura) are scheduled to start and neither have more than 20 matches in the MLS career.
One final thing that really has to have Colorado fans scratching their heads is the collapse of Christian Gomez (3 goals, 6 assists) who went from being the center piece of the team when the Rapids traded to get him from DC United, and now is stuck on the bench playing behind Mehdi Ballouchy (1 goal, 4 assists). Once the most valuable player in all of MLS and now stuck behind a talented underachiever, talk about money wasted.
RSL’s defense has done the job in recent weeks allowing just one goal in each of their last two matches, while facing some of the best offensive players in the league. They took Kenny Cooper and Jeff Cunningham from one of the top scoring duos in the last month of MLS and kept both from getting either goals or assists, the week before against New York Juan Pablo Angel and newcomer Mac Kanji were able to get the ball into the net. I imagine that Connor Casey will get to know Jamison Olave very well tonight. Remember the last time these two teams met Colorado was unable to get a goal and the Rapids trailed behind RSL in shots 14-9, as well as shots on goal 6-2, and on the scoreboard 2-0.
Make Jason Smile
If people think that coaches don’t take the performance of their teams personal, you only need to watch Jason Kreis on the sidelines of any match and you will understand that Jason’s emotions tend to be worn on his sleeve during matches. When things are going bad on the pitch, you can tell by looking at Jason, and if the officials make a bad call, watch out Jason is not beyond telling them exactly what is on his mind, but when things are going well it is hard to get a smile out of Jason, a smirk maybe but no way will you get a full blown smile. Well I have to imagine as RSL win the match, win the Rocky Mountain Cup, and make the playoffs that photographers in Colorado will get a chance at capturing a rare sight, a Jason Kreis smile. Oh and you want to know how player now coach Jason has done against Colorado? Well he has been coach for 5 matches between the two teams and RSL is 3-1-1 in those five matches.
The reality is that RSL is simply a better team than Colorado and with everything on the line and their destiny in their own hands expect RSL’s players to step up and take what they deserve.
Great new for fans
Well many fans made the trip to Denver for this important match, some of us were stuck in Salt Lake for various reasons. The RSL front office did a good job of arranging a couple venues for fans to attend viewing parties, but with the match being shown on HDNet many fans would be forced to listen to the match on the radio. But up steps Comcast cable and this announcement was made late yesterday:
SALT LAKE CITY (Friday, October 24, 2008) – Real Salt Lake President Bill Manning today announced that Comcast of Utah will simulcast tomorrow’s critical “do-or-tie” Real Salt Lake game on digital cable channel 664 at 7:30 p.m. MT. In an unprecedented move, Comcast has been granted permission from Major League Soccer and its national television partner, HDNet, to carry the high-definition feed in the Utah DMA, featuring Glenn Davis and Marcelo Balboa on the call (a down-converted standard-definition feed of the game will also be available in a “letterbox” format –thereby preserving the original 16:9 ratio – for non-HD viewers on the same channel).
“Full credit to HDNet and Major League Soccer for working with Comcast to make this happen,” said Manning, now completing his first 180 days as RSL president. “The collective belief by all involved parties to make this historic game, heavy with postseason implications, available to the widest number of viewers in our community was the impetus in getting this done.”
I say once again that Bill Manning has proven to be a great leader of this organization, his dedication to the team and the fans is incredible and I for one say thank you to Bill for proving he will go to any length to ensure that the fans of RSL are taken care of. You have my vote for MLS executive of the year.
Official Game Guide
OFF MY SOAPBOX
(and ready for the playoffs)