Real Salt Lake vs. Chivas USA match recap part 2
November 2, 2008 by f4denz.
Well here goes, this is based on my sitting down Sunday afternoon and watching the match, the first thing that is a bit of a surprise is that Andy Williams returns to the starting line up for Real Salt Lake, also Chivas had a bunch of last minute injuries and players like Harris, Esky, and Claudio Suarez didn’t even make the trip to Rio Tinto Stadium. It was a beautiful day with a fairly strong breeze for the first daytime match at the new stadium, and Don Garber was on hand for the match, he did say a couple words before the match.
0-10 minutes
RSL comes out and is applying huge pressure on the ball and in less than a minute a foul is called on RSL, something we would see a lot more of before this was over. A huge long ball over the top to Yura, who plays it back out to Kyle who tries to play it to Williams, but a hard foul and RSL gets a free shot from about 6-7 yards outside of the box. Javi lines up for the shot, but he plays it a bit high and it could be a bit of the wind playing but no early goal from this set piece. A big time pass from Yura to Javi, who takes a shot but just misses, and Chivas ties to counter but Rimando cleans it up and RSL counters on a great ball from Nick to Clint, who plays it in to Yura and he is pushed off the ball as it goes out for a goal kick. RSL is playing what might be the most aggressive ball I have seen all year, definitely this early in a match.
Wow Yura is working so hard as are Clint and Javi in the attack, they have Chivas’ defense on their heels as the pressure is intense in the first 8 minutes of the match and RSL have been creating a lot of chances. Any time Chivas get the ball into the RSL third, it is pulled away, and Wingert is attacking up the wing and he out runs the rest of the team, and Chris was forced to take a shot. The result is a corner kick for RSL, but it was cleared out by Talley and eventually a throw in for Chivas, but RSL steals the ball back quickly, but it goes out and Chivas gets it back. As the clock hits 10 the score is 0-0 but RSL have simply dominated the play so far.
10-20
Even when Chivas get a chance to attempt a counter it is being broken up by the RSL midfield, and the RSL defense haven’t been tested too much at the start of the match. Every ball it being attacked by RSL and the lone bright point for Chivas is Sasha Kljestan who has the lone shot by Chivas in the first 15 minutes. There is some tough play already in this match as the two 2005 expansion teams have had some very chirpy matches in the past and there is no love lost between the two sides. Williams is looking good early in the match and playing in some dangerous balls, Joy is moving up into the attack and doing a great job of creating some chances, Javi takes another shot and this one goes right to Thornton. Another foul by Chivas in a dangerous spot as RSL gets a free kick from 30 yards out. Mathis takes the shot but Thornton was there to knock the ball down and then pick it up.
Chivas get their first free kick, but it posed no threat, it is followed up quickly by a hard foul from behind on Javi, but no call and the ball is played out via Fair Play. This is the first of the calls that I wondered how the official missed this one, it was a clear tackle from behind and should have probably not only been a foul, but could have been a yellow card. After 20 minutes it is still 0-0.
20-30
Olave is tested for the first time and he is simply too much for Braun to handle, but the tempo for RSL has come down a bit and Chivas are getting more possession, but RSL is still in clear control of the match. If anything RSL is trying a bit too hard to play longs balls over the top to Yura, it is way too early to start trying to rely on that tactic. No Max, those are not Chivas USA supporters, I could only find 2 Chivas USA jerseys out of 20-30, these are Chivas fans, but I doubt most them could name 5 of the players on the pitch. Will had the ball at the top of the box, but couldn’t get a free shot, and Kyle takes a shot that is deflected and RSL get another corner kick, but Javi puts it directly to Thornton who makes the catch. Wingert plays a long ball cross field, Javi saves it with his head, and Kyle then gets a shot that goes high over the goal.
Javi plays a ball to Yura who tries to turn but is elbowed by Thomas, and for some reason the official gives a yellow to Andy for a late foul, but Salazar missed the foul on Yura who was down on the pitch for almost a minute before Salazar even noticed. Yura gets shut down by Thomas, and it is still 0-0 after 30 minutes.
30-40
Some great passing by RSL and finally Chivas knocks it out and RSL gets their 3rd corner of the match, Javi gets it to Olave, who plays it back to Johnson but his shot is high over the goal. Wow the first real break out by Braun, who is shut down by Olave. Jamison is lucky to not have gotten a card, as he slaps the ball away from Braun. RSL is back in control and on the attack, Chivas gets a throw in their own end and all of a sudden Javi gets taken down on the edge of the box and there is no call by the official. Even the FSC guys could see that, but wow that is a horrible no call, and the fans are letting Salazar know it.
9-1 is the advantage on shots as the clock hits 37 minutes, but this one is getting very heated and still Chivas hasn’t had but a couple times where they have been able to build a solid attack or keep possession for more than a couple passes. Some great passes from Clint and Chris that end with Johnson earning RSL their 4th corner of the match, it goes just over Javi, played back to Williams by Yura and then back into the box and Clint goes high for the bicycle kick but it goes wide. Impressive effort but the score is still 0-0 after 40 minutes.
40-45
While the goals haven’t come yet, the play by RSL has been simply impressive in what might be the best 45 minutes of the season despite not having a goal. Yura’s first touch lets him down after a great ball played to him by Williams, but it was cleared out. Andy plays a ball high across the box, and again Chivas is having a hard time getting any real amount of possession, I love how they call a foul on Yura when he was being held by Bornstein, not sure what Salazar is doing but he has made a number of questionable calls and missed several others. For the first time Chivas actually have linked more than 3 passes together, but the whistle blows and it is 0-0. The halftime stats are all in favor of RSL with a 9-1 shot advantage, a 2-0 shot on goal advantage and a 4-0 corner kick advantage, but also a 2-0 yellow card advantage, as Salazar has made a couple questionable calls.
Second half (45-55)
It starts just like the first half, a super shot by Clint and a just a tough save by Thornton keeps it out of the net, another corner kick for RSL, but it didn’t create any damage. Just a couple seconds later a ball played in by Andy and it is just a bit long or Olave would have had a goal. Chivas finally counters, and Talley tries to take a shot but it only finds side netting. RSL is still controlling possession and have their 6th corner kick. Borchers gets a head on it and it just cleared off the line by Razov or it would have been a goal. Chivas tries to counter with a long ball but it is shut down again by the RSL defense who have been up to the task in this match.
A long ball played by RSL and Thornton has to come out to make the play, and just seconds lager Javi plays the ball to Yura and he plays a great ball across the box but just long and out of the reach of a charging Mathis. Chivas actually looked good and connected a couple passes but RSL closed quickly and broke up the effort. Javi works off his back to get the ball and then plays a ball to Yura who is called for a foul on Talley, not sure what the hell that call was, but horrible. Followed by a foul at midfield called against Javi, again no idea what was called that time by Salazar who seems very disconnected from the match. Johnson takes a shot but it is deflected off a Chivas player and a possible handball in the box but I couldn’t see it clearly and the RSL attack is once again thwarted. Still 0-0 after 55 minutes.
55-65
For the first time all match the Chivas attack looks like they are posing a threat to RSL, but no shot gets taken and RSL gets the ball back. This is breakneck pace to the match, and you now know why Jason pushes fitness so much. Mathis gets a shot that almost skips past Thornton, but he is able to gather it in. Chivas is trying to slow the pace and are playing the ball around a lot, and a good threat by Bornstein but it goes over the endline for a goal kick.
Another threat by Chivas as a long ball is played over the RSL back line but Rimando gets to it before an onrushing Braun and the threat is shut down without too much trouble. The first sub of the match is being made and it is RSL bringing in Robbie Russell coming in for, but a shot and goal for Yura, but Talley dives on little contact and Salazar calls a foul on Yura. This is a horrible call to pull a goal off the scoreboard. It is Russell coming in for Joy to give a bit more offensive bite to the backline. Wow more contact in the box and yet there is no call from Salazar, there was more contact on this play than the previous one in which Salazar called the foul on Yura and took the goal off the scoreboard.
65-75
Wow finally after some horrible calls, a yellow card to Razov as he trips Borchers who was moving forward in attack. Now Jason makes another change and Andy goes out to make room for Robbie Findley, as we have 3 forwards in the match as Jason is clearly going for some goals. Chivas is finally putting together some attacking efforts, but nothing too powerful, and they make a change bringing in Bobby Burling for Talley. You can tell that many of the Chivas players are getting tired and looking for ways to slow the pace down and stretch the clock out to their advantage, there is still very little in the attack for Chivas who did have their best chance in the second half broken up by Olave.
Findley gets a great effort on a pass by Clint, the ball goes over the line as Findley plays it off a Chivas player, but the sideline official is overruled on his call for a corner by Salazar who was out of position on the play. Findley is fouled, but again Salazar is either not paying attention or simply refusing to make calls, I am not sure which but while he is not as bad as some want to believe; he has made some questionable calls and no calls. Kyle fires a shot but it is stopped by Thornton, but RSL continues to be the team in charge, Yura fights and gets the ball back but it gets cleared down the pitch by a Chivas player.
75-85
Chivas gets the ball deep in the RSL third but a horrible mistake and they let it roll out of bounds and it goes back to RSL, and finally a call on Thomas who fouls Findley to keep him from getting to a great pass by Javi. Javi takes the free kick and Findley gets some serious air to head it and Thornton just pushes it out. RSL’s 7th corner kick, but Findley’s header this time is off target and as Yura gets elbowed but again no call by Salazar. Another ball played in by RSL, but it goes over for a goal kick, and Razov tries a shot from about 20 yards out but it is far wide and no threat. Dejair Ferreira comes on for Ante Ravov just before the 80th minute as the score is still 0-0.
Robbie gets elbowed by Mendoza, but again no call by Salazar, and yet a brush of the hand by Yura gets called as Mendoza lost his balance. Espindola is getting ready to come into the match, as Chivas is trouble as Yura gets a ball deep and works against 3 players, after 80 minutes of action. Mathis gets the ball back at midfield and plays a great ball to Findley who is open and has a clear shot on goal but his shot goes just wide by foot. Fabi is in for Olave and RSL now has 4 strikers in the match as Jason is clearly looking to get a late goal.
85-90
A deep throw in for RSL, but Yura’s first touch is off and it goes to Thornton but the Chivas attack is broken up yet again. The final change for chivas as Braun is out and Roberto Nurse as Yura gets the ball in the box but gives it up. Findley gives up the ball but RSL get it back and Kyle plays a long ball that is too long for Fabi, I am still amazed that RSL is challenging every ball. Espindola at the edge of the box, then to Javi, back to Fabi and he gets a shot but Thornton is there again. Findley in the box and loses his footing. RSL is again on the attack, a deep throw in by Russell, Javi plays it into the box and Yura taps it past Thornton as the clock hits 90 and wow it is two weeks in a row that Yura makes it two late goals in the last two matches.
Four minutes of stoppage time is indicated, will Chivas find a way to counter or can RSL get another? Almost every fan is on their feet as the clock ticks down, and RSL really looks like they want to try to get another, another deep throw in for RSL. Long ball to Findley, he heads to the corner, and then a foul called on Findley, again on light contact. That is it as Salazar finally does something right as he blows the final whistle and RSL wins 1-0.
Wow talk about an exciting match and the only team to get a win in the first leg is RSL, so now only needing a tie to move on to the Western Conference finals. It will be a tough match, but RSL proved earlier this year that they can win against Chivas as the HDC. How interesting if Houston should stumble next week that we might just be able to see one more match at Rio Tinto this year but first a result on the road will be required. RSL’s confidence has to be high after two late match goals to get results when they have been needed most.
OK, pictures are coming later today, but for now I am
OFF MY SOAPBOX
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License.
Real Salt Lake vs. Chivas USA recap part 1
November 2, 2008 by f4denz.
First to dismiss a rumor
OK, after the match there was a rumor about head official Ricardo Salazar having been the head official in all of RSL’s losses to Chivas this year. That information is wrong in fact this was the first time RSL had Salazar as an official in one of their matchups with Chivas in 2008, he also was only involved in one match between the two sides in 2007, a 3-2 loss for RSL. In 2006 he was the head official in the first match of the year which saw RSL face Chivas in LA, a 3-0 loss for RSL, and in 2005 he was the head official in the last regular season match between the two sides, RSL won 2-1.
I will be working on my match recap today and it should be up a bit later, along with some match pictures|Until then here is a copy of the official post match press info from RSL:
REAL SALT LAKE SAVES BEST FOR LAST AGAIN IN 1-0 GAME ONE WIN OVER CHIVAS USA
FW Yura Movsisyan Scores in 90th Minute for 2nd Straight Week, Giving RSL 1-0 Advantage Heading into Second Leg
RSL’s Victorious in MLS Cup Playoff Debut in Front of 14,719 at Rio Tinto Stadium
SANDY, Utah (Saturday, November 1, 2008) – Real Salt Lake’s flair for the dramatic carried over into its MLS Cup Playoff debut on Saturday afternoon, as FW Yura Movsisyan scored in the 90th minute to lift RSL to a 1-0 victory over Chivas USA in Game One of their two-leg Western Conference Semifinal Series, played in front of 14,719 fans at Rio Tinto Stadium. RSL will carry its 1-0 advantage into the away leg of its aggregate goals series against Chivas USA, to be contested next Saturday, November 8, at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. (8:30 p.m. MT kickoff; LIVE on Fox Soccer Channel).
As he did last week to extend RSL’s season, Movsisyan made the most of a golden opportunity in the game’s waning moments, accepting a cross from 2008 RSL MVP Javier Morales with a first-touch back-heel that beat Chivas USA ‘keeper Zach Thornton to his right post. Real Salt Lake had the “Goats” on their heels from the onset, finishing the match with a 21-3 advantage in shots. RSL GK Nick Rimando had an easy night between the posts for the home side, making just one save en route to his sixth shutout in 13 postseason appearances (now 8-4-1 in MLS Cup Playoffs).
For the full MLSnet.com recap of today’s contest, please click on the link below:
http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20081101&content_id=201079&vkey=news_rsl&fext=.jsp&team=t121
Chivas USA (0-1-0) vs. Real Salt Lake (1-0-0)
November 01, 2008 — Rio Tinto Stadium
Scoring Summary:
RSL — Yura Movsisyan 1 (Javier Morales 1, Robbie Russell 1) 90
Chivas USA — Zach Thornton, Carey Talley (Bobby Burling 68), Jonathan Bornstein, Shavar Thomas, Francisco Mendoza, Alex Zotinca, Jesse Marsch, Paulo Nagamura, Sacha Kljestan, Justin Braun (Roberto Nurse 86), Ante Razov (Dejair 79),
Substitutes Not Used: Jim Curtin, Jorge Flores, Daniel Paladini, Lance Parker
Real Salt Lake — Nick Rimando, Chris Wingert, Nat Borchers, Jamison Olave (Fabian Espindola 84), Ian Joy (Robbie Russell 63), Andy Williams (Robbie Findley 67), Kyle Beckerman, Javier Morales, Will Johnson, Clint Mathis, Yura Movsisyan.
Substitutes Not Used: Tony Beltran, Kenny Deuchar, Dema Kovalenko, Chris Seitz
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Real Salt Lake
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Chivas USA
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total shots:
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21
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(Yura Movsisyan 4)
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3
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(3 tied with 1)
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shots on goal:
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8
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(Clint Mathis 2,
Yura Movsisyan 2)
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1
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(Alex Zotinca 1)
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fouls:
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17
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(Yura Movsisyan 6)
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9
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(3 tied with 2)
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|
offsides:
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0
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1
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(Carey Talley 1)
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|
corner kicks:
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6
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(Javier Morales 6)
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0
|
|
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saves:
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1
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(Nick Rimando 1)
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7
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(Zach Thornton 7)
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Misconduct Summary:
RSL — Andy Williams (caution; Reckless Foul) 29
RSL — Kyle Beckerman (caution; Reckless Foul) 42
CHV — Ante Razov (caution; Tactical Foul) 66
CHV — Shavar Thomas (caution; Reckless Foul) 75
referee: Ricardo Salazar
Referee’s Assistants: Kermit Quisenberry; Paul Scott
4th official: Richard Heron
time of game: 1:51
attendance: 14,719
weather: Partly Cloudy -and- 72 degrees
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
MLS CUP PLAYOFFS QUOTE SHEET
REAL SALT LAKE HEAD COACH JASON KREIS
On his approach to RSL’s first-ever playoff game:
“One of our team mottos is ‘Fortune favors the bold.’ We made some bold decisions in our line-up, we made some bold decisions tactically about how we were going to play. It’s one of the first times I have seen the team play that aggressively for 90 minutes. I came in at halftime and asked the guys if we could keep this up for 90 minutes, and I got a lot of ‘absolutelies.’ It makes me extremely proud of the effort.”
On the play of FW Yura Movsisyan:
“I thought he really worked hard, he made things really difficult for their two center backs. He is a guy right now that is feeling good about himself, as we are feeling good about him. It’s good to see that he is rewarded at the end for all his hard work with a tap-in finish.”
On the similarities between last week’s draw at Colorado and tonight’s win:
“Similar only in the fact that we scored a late goal, because, for me, that was one of the best soccer games we’ve played all year, and it’s interesting that it comes on the heels of one of the worst soccer games we played all year. But that goes to show you that our team can absolutely play the game and they are fun to watch.”
On discouragement creeping in towards the end of the match:
“I just kept a little bit of an upbeat attitude about it and really, really felt like tonight it was going to come, there was no doubt in my mind. Last week there was some doubt, but this week there was no doubt. In the end I think it’s really good for soccer, because this quite easily could have been another game when a team takes it to the other and walks out of here with nothing but a draw. So in the end I think soccer won tonight.”
RSL FORWARD YURA MOVSISYAN
On RSL’s continued late-game heroics:
“Like I said to the guys, maybe we should start playing the last five minutes of every game and then the next 85. We just seem to get it done. We’ve got great guys in the locker room and everyone put the effort in, and I was able to score a lucky goal.”
On the 90th minute game-winner:
“I was kind of hoping that Javi (Morales) would get a ball across because he had a guy on him. And fortunately for us he did a great job of shielding the ball and knocking the ball across. It came to me and I thought, ‘You can control it or backheel it,’ and I guess I made the right decision. I never thought in my career that this would ever happen to me. I always thought I was going to earn every goal I score. But I guess you’ve got to have some luck too, and this is the right time to get lucky.”
On his goal today compared to last weekend’s equally dramatic 90th minute finish:
“Last week is never going to be repeated, just with the amount of pressure on us and the amount of expectations. But we’ve exceeded everybody’s expectations, and now we’re looking to do more special things.”
On the team’s mindset heading into the away leg next Saturday:
“In the beginning we kind of had a hard time playing away, but we’ve improved week in and week out, and we can do it anywhere – home or away – as long as we play good soccer.”
RSL CAPTAIN KYLE BECKERMAN
On RSL’s possession game dominating play tonight:
“When we’re passing good we’re getting a lot of chances early and often, and we’re capable of doing that. Even when we were tied, I was pleased with the way we were playing. If we can play like that, the way we’re capable of, the goals will come. It was important for us to get back to the way we play.”
On lessons from last weekend’s game at Colorado that can carry over to Leg Two at Chivas USA:
“We definitely know what we are up against. [Chivas] is going to be desperate, coming out to get us. And I think that we learned we needed to relax a bit more. We needed to kill the game last week and that’s what we’re going to try and do [at Chivas]. Let’s get on the ball and try to go after it and get the second [goal], but let’s concentrate on playing good soccer and being relaxed.”
RSL MIDFIELDER JAVIER MORALES
On once again getting a result in the last minutes:
“I like to win – at the beginning of the game or at the end of the game, it’s the same. Luckily we were able to find the play in the very last part of the game.”
On setting up the game-winner:
“I just barely noticed the defender open his legs. I saw the opening and was just able to kick it in, and Yura took care of the rest.”
On his first MLS Cup Playoff experience:
“A very good experience, because it was a great game and we were able to obtain a win. They are very strong feelings, knowing that we are so close to being champions.”
CHIVAS USA HEAD COACH PREKI
On nearly keeping things even on the road:
“For a moment it was going to be one of those days where we escape, not conceding a goal and putting ourselves in a good spot going home. But one play off of the throw in, we fall asleep for a second, and it’s one-nothing.”
On facing a deficit going back to The Home Depot Center:
“We’re in the same spot as we were last year. We’re going home and hopefully this time it will be a little different for us. Even if it was 0-0 here we’d have to go home and win, so we have to win no matter what.”
On GK Zach Thornton’s performance:
“I thought Zach was solid. He made some big saves for us and kept us in the game on a couple of occasions.”
CHIVAS USA CAPTAIN JESSE MARSCH
Thoughts on the contest:
We didn’t play great, by any means. [Real Salt Lake] came after us pretty hard. Around the 65th minute it calmed down a little bit, and we had chances to play and created a little bit more, but we were two minutes away from accomplishing what you set out to do when you come on the road. It’s unfortunate and we’re disappointed and upset, but it’s halftime right now. We’re going home and you have to score a goal to advance anyway. So we’re going to take it to them at home like they took it to us here.”
On tonight’s difficulties containing Real Salt Lake:
“They came after us hard. They pressured us hard, and the elevation becomes a factor because you get tired when you’re chasing the game the whole time. We weren’t sharp enough. We couldn’t get things going enough until midway through the second half, but sometimes that’s how playoff games look. You have to battle and fight and do everything you can to come out ahead, and we were close to doing it.”
CHIVAS USA FORWARD JUSTIN BRAUN
The Salt Lake City native on playing his first postseason contest in front of friends and family:
“The emotions were going, but I was just trying to keep them under control. Just stay relaxed and play like it was any other game. It’s always exciting to come to the hometown and play and I wanted to play well, but I just tried to keep the emotions to the minimum.”
On if the midfielders had problems linking up with himself and fellow forward Ante Razov:
“I don’t think there was a problem. Salt Lake did a good job of taking those options away. I think we were alright. I think we can go back to our place and play our game we can come out with a win.
CHIVAS USA MIDFIELDER SACHA KLJESTAN
On the result:
“Things didn’t go our way. Hopefully next weekend we’ll get some guys back, get our regular line-up going, but there are no guarantees. The only thing we need to do is play our game, try to create as many chances as we can early on in the game against Salt Lake at home. That’s all we can ask for.”
More coming later
I am going through my pictures and with over 900, it is going to take me a good part of the day to rewatch the match, do my match recap, add pictures to my blog post and to http://connect.roguecavaliers.com, but I did get the RMC pictures from last night up already. So check back this evening for more info and pics.
OFF MY SOAPBOX