Real Salt Lake fans, do you believe now?
For those who believed from the start that Real Salt Lake had built something special, for those who believed it when coaches and players said they were going to make a splash in the playoffs, well pinch yourself because it is all coming true:
You can see it for yourself, RSL is not only a playoff team but now just one win away from the MLS Championship match, and not only did they make it to the Western Conference Final, the match is at home against New York next weekend.
The Run
In order to secure a spot in the playoffs and to continue their run towards the MLS Cup RSL have had to play solid soccer each week since mid September and even in the two losses suffered in Sept. RSL looked like a team that was coming together and playing as well as anyone. I believe it was the disappointment of the 2-2 draw to the undermanned Galaxy (Beck’s, Landy, and Lewis were all gone on national team duty), followed by the loss in New York to the Red Bulls after taking an early road lead, and then the huge let down of the Rimando and Borchers collision that allowed Chivas to steal 3 points from the final match at RES. I believe those 3 matches all ones that RSL players and coaches felt like they had played well enough to get a result in, if only things had gone their way, make RSL realize that nothing would be handed to them, that results had to be fought for and that nobody should stop playing until the final whistle.
After the Chivas match RSL headed on the road to San Jose, but not the same San Jose they had faced earlier in the season 3 times (2-1-0), this San Jose team was the hottest team in MLS when we faced them on Sept. 27th. In fact San Jose had not lost a MLS match since the first weekend of July, but this match was critical and a loss would almost kill the playoff dreams of RSL. This match was also a coming out party for the hard working Yura Movsisyan, it is funny as I read my match preview I mention two things (Yura’s role, and a 3-2 road victory). This match combined with other results saw RSL’s playoff hopes jump from 40% to over 56% in one week.
Next up another road match against New England and while the result was a bit of a disappointment after RSL took a 2-0 lead in the 73rd minute on Andy Williams first goal of the 2008 season, fans were wondering if RSL really could win two straight against two good teams on the road. But in one of the last matches that New England would see stars Steve Ralston and Taylor Twellman make an impact the Rev’s stormed back to get two goals in two minutes to tie the match up. Coach Kreis made a huge point after the match, if you had asked the staff or players if they would be happy with 4 points on the road when facing both New England and San Jose they all would have said yes.
The draw didn’t help RSL’s playoff hopes but the next 3 matches would see us face off against teams competing for the same playoff spot we were, first up was the opener of Rio Tinto which saw us face off against New York. With the excitement and pressure of opening a new stadium, RSL played flat and New York took advantage and Dave van den Bergh scored in the 31st minute, but RSL came back and drew even in the 41st minute. RSL played better in the second half but now suspended Jon Conway was up to the task and made 5 saves to keep the score even at 1-1 and neither side improved their shot at the playoffs.
RSL next played host to FC Dallas and both teams were 1-0-2 in their previous 3 matches, so whoever could come out on top of this matchup would have a strong advantage to make the playoffs. Dallas struck first and scored a goal in the 7th minute off a terrific throw in by Adrian Serioux (world class throw in), but RSL showed the heart and backbone that helped them have their most successful season and answered back with 3 goals aided by a couple red cards shown to Dallas players, RSL dominated the match after the first Dallas red card, and there was no offense from Dallas after the second. RSL moved a lot closer to securing a playoff spot with this result, but everything would be determined by the next match.
Up next was the final match of the 2008 RMC, and a win or draw would put RSL in the playoffs, but a loss would put the Rapids in and RSL be on the outside looking in. Despite playing one of the worst matches of the season, RSL showed heart and battled back after going down a goal in the 19th minute but were outshot 20-12 and Colorado had a 6-4 advantage in shots on goal. Nick Rimando was huge in keeping the score close and not allowing Colorado, who were the better side for 89 minutes, but then Yura was in the right place at the right time and a deflected Andy Williams shot was put past Bouna and we were tied up 1-1 as the match ended. For RSL that meant they kept the Rocky Mountain Cup, but more important was the first ever playoff spot for Real Salt Lake.
Now many people thought that would be the end of “The Run” but after seeing the look in the eyes of both players and coaches, and hearing them talk about making a splash in the playoffs, I for one knew that the best of the season was yet to come.
When Chivas came to town on the 1st of November they had no idea that they would be part of RSL best match in team history, now some will argue that the wins over DC United were better, but I would say if you watch the way RSL played for 90 minutes you would not question my opinion. 21 shots to 3 for Chivas, 8 shots on goal to 1 for Chivas, and a 6-0 advantage in corner kicks, and while it again took a 90th minute miracle shot from Yura Movsisyan to get RSL a 1-0 result. I have to give credit to Zach Thornton who made some amazing saves. RSL took a very aggressive approach to the match and brining in Robbie Russell for Ian Joy, Robbie Findley for Andy Williams, and Fabian Espindola for Olave, giving RSL an amazing offensive lineup. This match really could have been 3 or 4 to nothing, and I give Chivas credit for withstanding a powerful RSL attack.
This meant that RSL was in a similar situation to one just two weeks prior a win or draw and they would be moving on into the Western Conference final, and with a win already over Chivas at the HDC, confidence was high. Despite the promise to play with the same aggressive nature RSL did make a couple changes, first Robbie Russell was filling in for Ian Joy who was out with an injury, and Dema Kovalenko was brought in to help control the midfield for the more offensive minded Andy Williams. In what was one of the most physical matches I have seen in MLS in a long time, but also a very exciting match, Chivas struck first getting a PK on a foul by Morales against Razov that saw both men pulling and tugging on each other. Sacha didn’t miss and put the ball past Nick Rimando to give Chivas a 1-0 edge in the match and pull them even in the series with RSL. But showing some grit on the road, RSL answered back and the defensive minded Kovalenko put a diving header past Thornton to give RSL an edge in the series 2-1 and draw the match even at 1-1, and that is how the first half ended.
Preki tried to pull a Kreis by making some very offensive changes, bringing in Eskandarian for Curtin at the half, then following it with Braun in for Talley, but RSL would continue making changes to boost their own offense by brining in Findley for Mathis in the 72nd minute. That move would pay off with Robbie getting an assist on the Morales goal just 5 minutes later as RSL took a 2-1 lead in the match and a 3-1 edge in the series. Jason next called on Andy Williams to help control the possession (a battle RSL would lose) and took out Yura who was gassed, Chivas would make their final change brining in Zotinca for Atiba Harris and RSL brought in Espindola for Morales with just a few minutes left in the match. Chivas would do a great job and make it close on Braun’s goal in the 83rd minute, but RSL actually did well to not only rebuff the Chivas all out attack, but countered well and Zach Thornton stepped up and made a couple huge saves to keep the match close. It all was too little too late for Chivas as the match ended 2-2 with RSL’s goal at home being the difference and allowing them to move on to Saturday’s matchup with New York.
Tomorrow I will take a look at the predictions around the web as well as other related news, I will also have some notes from the media calls with both coaches which are taking place tomorrow.
The Strangely Funny
So I have to admit that I thought the VW Road to MLS Cup was going to be a tour of the new MLS trophy to all the MLS cities prior to the MLS Cup match, however after watching the first video posted on the MLS site . I have to say it is a bit strange and funny in an odd way, the guy playing the MLS official really is doing a great job of portraying what most of us think of many of the MLS officials (stiff, humorless, and looking like they have a stick someplace a stick shouldn’t be).
A serious note
In Search of Donor, a Soccer Player’s Family Finds a Community nytimes.com
For months now, the emotions have welled up whenever Andy Williams has left the field after games. Some of it has come from his desire to lift Real Salt Lake to a new place, the Major League Soccer playoffs. Some from knowing that at 31, he is in the twilight of his career.
Mostly, though, it comes from thinking about his wife, Marcia.
She received a diagnosis this summer of a rare form of leukemia and has struggled to find a donor match for a bone-marrow transplant. Without one, she is likely to leave behind her husband to raise their daughter and hers from a previous relationship, alone.
If anyone questions the heart of Andy Williams and the love the fans have for him, simply read this article. I know that RSL is planning something to help with the search for a donor and as I get details I will pass them on, but I call on every RSL fan to get tested to see if they might be a donor match, if given the chance.
OFF MY SOAPBOX
This entry was posted on November 11, 2008 at 10:10 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.