Real Salt Lake vs. New York match recap
November 17, 2008 by f4denz.
Well the result wasn’t what I hoped for but I have to give kudo’s first to the thousands of fans who showed up on a cold night at Rio Tinto and proved that we can provide a level of support that matches the effort of Real Salt Lake.
First 10 minutes
I have to admit I have never liked the boom sticks, but they were a huge part of getting and keeping the crowd in the match, I was disappointed that we didn’t see Andy Williams in the starting lineup but not surprised. The rematch of the Rio Tinto opener is underway and both sides look a bit nervous at the start, I was almost hoping we would see the green jerseys make a comeback, but I think they sold all of them off. Nice to hear Cobi Jones getting a shot at announcing a big game, well in the first 90 seconds the ball has been out of bounds 4 times already, the nerves really are showing but considering both teams are fighting for their first ever MLS Cup shot it is understandable. A nice long ball to Yura who pushed just beyond a rushing Mathis, New York clear but RSL holds it in and Russell gets into the box but it is poked out of bounds by the Red Bulls. RSL has to regroup, but you can see that RSL is deliberate in trying to create offensive chances; early on Robbie Russell is really looking good as he is pushing up into the attack right from the start.
Cepero causes the largest cheer by falling down, which is followed quickly by Rimando making a save on a early shot by Wolyniec. A foul on Morales doesn’t get called and New York is getting a bit more organized, but RSL is still controlling the possession and it is 0-0 as the clock hits 10:00
10-20
New York gets a second corner kick, but Rimando is there to gather it in as Nick gets high and plays strong early in the match. I am noticing early in the match that the first touch of may RSL players is a bit rough, both Javi and Dema have suffered from poor touches early. A foul gets called as Javi is taken down hard, but they change the call to a throw in, not sure how that wasn’t a foul but RSL lost out on a free kick from a dangerous position. Jimenez gets a very close tackle on Johnson inside the box and the RSL corner does nothing, but is followed by a Mathis shot that is cleared out by the early New York star Diego Jimenez. Will Johnson plays a good ball, but it was a bit strong and just long for Mathis, who was clearly upset, but Johnson is looking very dangerous early in the match.
RSL is doing a decent job of attacking the ball, but the passes are just a bit off early in the match, either long or short enough to be picked off by the Bulls. Johnson fires a shot from distance but Danny C. picks it up without it posing any real danger. New York is trying to play long balls almost every time they get the ball, while RSL is mixing long balls with deliberate attacks, and RSL get a free kick from 35 yards and Morales plays a good ball in but once again Jimenez is there to save the day for New York. After 20 minutes we are still tied up a 1-1.
20-30
Wow van den Bergh and Russell are battling hard early on in the match, but RSL is still controlling the majority of the play. Once again Javi’s touch is a bit off and hopefully that will change soon. Just 22 minutes in Rojas is in for Udiparipovic who was suffering from a hamstring injury. In a match that could go 120 minutes, an early call really could impact the outcome if we go past regular time. I do question the pre match watering of the pitch, at night on a cold night doesn’t seem like a good decision. Yura gets clear wide and fires a shot that Cepero pushes just wide for a RSL corner, Dema fires a shot but it is deflected out of the box by the Red Bulls.
A long ball to Russell but it is just a bit long and goes out of bounds, RSL is pushing up very high as the backline is playing almost at midfield, interesting that even as we near the 30 minute mark a lot of fans all around the stadium are standing up and cheering as RSL continue to dominate. Mendes has a high elbow on Yura inside the box, but nothing is called and the replay angle doesn’t show anything to show either way. New York counters and Wolyniec plays a ball across the area as Olave misses the ball and Dave van den Bergh puts it past Rimando. New York again takes an early lead at Rio Tinto 1-0.
Dema plays a horrible ball across the area to nobody and RSL will have to come up with something to counter as New York has gained a bit of energy off the goal as we hit the 30th minute.
30-40
Another corner kick for New York, and this one goes long and is cleared out of the area, but New York holds it in but then end up playing it out of bounds and the ball goes back to RSL, another bad touch by Javi off a throw in and the ball goes back to New York. For the first time all match New York looks to be the more aggressive side, a hard foul by Borchers on Wolyniec gives a free kick to New York, but nothing comes of it and RSL get the ball back.
Even down a goal, the crowd is really into the match and vocal in their support of the home side. Mathis on the attack, out to Johnson and into the box to Yura who goes down, but Javi saves it on the line but slips on the wet turf, but RSL is still attacking and pressuring the ball. I don’t understand when the turf already is slick due to the humidity and knowing that the moisture wouldn’t burn off with the cool night. A foul gives RSL a free kick from 25 yards out, but Dane Richards is down away from the play. Javi lines up for the free kick and it goes off the post and nobody is there to put it back on goal, both Clint and Kyle were close enough to redirect it but neither do. Yura gets the ball in the box and crosses it but it is pushed away by Mendes, the RSL corner kick poses no danger, but another free kick is awarded to RSL on a foul on Dema, and once again Javi fires it into the box but it is cleared out by New York.
40-halftime
Russell is down with a hurt shoulder after the last corner kick, but he is OK. Even the announce team, no fans of RSL this year is mentioning how RSL is controlling the match and are the better team so far, but when you are down a goal all that matters is the score and RSL is on the short end of the scoreboard. Javi gets it to Dema, who tries a shot from the edge of the box but it is blocked by Goldthwaite and as RSL get the ball back a bevy of players are whistled for offsides and New York get it back but as has been the case all match RSL gets the ball back quickly. The first yellow goes to Goldthwaite on a late tackle on Javi just past the midfield line, as RSL gets another free kick as the clock gets close to 45. Javi played it high and into the box but nobody is really there and another offside call against RSL, and I will go on the record as opposed to the stupid throwing of smoke bombs onto the pitch during a match, what are you trying to do? Stupid people and no not all of the stupid people were in the south stands during this match. The two minutes of stoppage time in the first half end as RSL continue to dominate but are on the short end of the scoreboard as they trail 1-0.
2nd half
So the halftime numbers show both teams with 4 shots on goal, New York has 3 corner kicks to RSL’s 2, but the only number that matters is that New York leads 1-0 as the second half begins. A hard foul on Will Johnson as the second half starts, but no call by the official once again. RSL gets the ball back but it goes out off a New York player and RSL has the ball in the box but Russell can’t get it to anyone and New York counters with Richards running the entire length of the pitch with Johnson in hot pursuit, the goal kick goes long but back to New York. Rojas fires a shot but it is blocked by Borchers, and followed up by Angel but Rimando cleans it up without much effort. New York is looking sharper in the first minutes of the second half, than they did in the first half, RSL looks much rougher than at any time in the match. I thought we would see Andy Williams in at halftime, but it looks like Jason is being more conservative knowing that the match could go into extra time and that fresh legs would be a huge advantage late.
New York’s first touches are much cleaner in this half, and RSL are slowly getting their composure back but still look sloppy and a bit panicked. Yura gets tangled with a couple New York defenders, could have been a call, but the ball goes back to Mathis who fires a long range shot which goes high over the goal. For the first time all match RSL is playing on their heels and the New York backline is pushed up much higher than they did in the first half. RSL gets it back and is trying to organize something, but their touch is just awful during the first 10 minutes of the second half.
55-65
RSL gets a nice shot on goal but it is pushed out again by Danny, the corner goes into the box but nothing dangerous comes of it, then a long ball by Javi but Mathis is double teamed and can’t get to it. RSL finally appear to be dangerous finally in the second half, but being down a goal they will have to find a way to get a goal, and they are getting ready to bring in Findley, but first a good chance is lost as Dema can’t keep the ball in bounds. Robbie Findley comes in for Dema just before we hit the hour mark, can Robbie get the offense kick started in the second half?
The fans are doing their part in trying to motivate the team and RSL seem to be responding as they get back into the attack, Johnson loses the ball just inside the box after a great pass from Mathis. It really looks like New York is pulling back and going into a bit of a defensive shell with 30 minutes left in the match. Russell tries to drive a ball into the box, but it is cleared out, but RSL keep the pressure on but New York gets the ball back. Wow the RSL defense can’t get the ball forward as both Borchers and Wingert have trouble with the slick ball, but RSL get it forward and look to try to pull the New York defense out of their shell. Findley runs past two defenders, but is fouled by the third and a yellow card for Rojas and Javi lines up 30 yards out for the free kick, nice ball but Beckerman’s header is pushed out by Cepero who has been up to the task so far tonight. Yura gets to the ball and crosses a nice ball to Findley but he just misses, Mathis to Morales, to Olave put it is just too much for the defender and the shot is just over the bar.
65-75
More stupid smoke bombs, this time on the north end of the stadium, really what is the point of that? RSL look to reorganize their attack and New York is just kicking the ball the length of the pitch whenever they get possession, and now they finally get a counter but Dane Richards gets a one on one vs. Rimando and pushes the ball wide of the goal. Once again the term “Autobahn football” is used to describe the full tilt pace of the match in the second half. With 20 minutes to go Morales gets it wide and plays it in, but just short of the goal and it is cleared out for a throw in. Russell plays it into the box, but nothing on goal.
RSL really is dominating, and Yura gets a shot but once again Danny is there to push it just wide and all RSL gets is a corner and Mathis takes the corner, and Olave is out and Williams is in to provide more offense. The Mathis corner is bad and falls short but RSL maintains possession of the ball, Williams is providing a bit more spark as RSL are in full blown attack mode, but with almost ever Red Bull player playing far behind the ball it will be hard to get clear passes. Cobi is calling out the Red Bull players for going down with those mystery injuries to take time off the clock and you can hear the fans getting restless at the antics of the Red Bull players, hopefully the 4th official will be fair in giving this time back in extra time.
75-85
Wingert plays a ball into the area but it is long and over all his teammates, as New York gets a goal kick. It is played right back in by RSL and another corner kick, this one goes to the back, Mathis plays it into the box, it bounces around but no shot on goal as there is simply too many bodies in the box for New York. Andy plays a long ball to nobody, and you are left to wonder who is not making a run. Findley puts forth great effort and puts a ball to Yura on the penalty spot, but Yura shanks it high over the goal.
Andy tries to play it to the other side, but nobody again is there and New York counters as Richards gets the ball in the box but Russell plays it out and the New York corner is pointless as they have only two players in the box. Yura plays a great ball to Findley, who gets it to Will Johnson at the far post but he can’t get it past the post and the best chance of the night is blown. A foul just five yards out and Javi lines up the shot, but plays it to Russell instead of on goal and it goes wide for a New York goal kick, and another dumbass puts a smoke bomb on the pitch. New York brings on Pietravallo for Sassano, RSL attacks again, and get another corner kick but the short kick comes up short, but RSL continue to attack. Borchers gets a chance on a ball played in by Andy but his header is just a foot wide of goal, as almost every RSL player has had a shot on goal tonight. RSL again sets up at midfield to attack, Johnson to Yura but the shot goes right to Cepero, but RSL continue the pressure.
85-final whistle
RSL continue to attack, and another foul just outside of the box and you have to wonder if Javi is going to finally get one to go. This one is less than 5 yards outside and just off center, there may not be a better chance tonight. Javi lines it up, it goes off the wall and out for a corner, short and the shot is taken by Johnson but it is a bad shot and out for a goal kick. Another Red Bull player is laying down and killing off the clock, this time it is Leitch and yet another smoke bomb it thrown on to the pitch. And after killing a minute off the clock, Leitch is back up and healed, long ball to Yura but he goes down easy and no call. Another corner for RSL as there are going to be four minutes of stoppage time, out off Danny for another corner kick, and Kenny D. comes in to provide a target as Mathis is out. Into the area, but nothing happening, a ball in for Borchers but his header again is wide.
Well nothing RSL is doing seems to be working tonight and despite being the better team in shots, shots on goal, possession, and every other stat you can think of the score is still 1-0 with just seconds left in the match. Guess what another Red Bull player is down and again it is Leitch, and I think the rule should be if you go down and have to go off, that you should have to stay out at least a minute. Russell’s throw is horrible with just a few ticks left on the clock Williams puts a ball in, it bounces around and Morales gets a shot and the third shot tonight goes off the goal post and the final whistle blows and New York will advance to the MLS cup and RSL is done. Give credit where it is due, New York did just enough to win and in this game of inches Real Salt Lake came up just short.
I will post some pictures on Monday, and my thoughts on this incredible year for Real Salt Lake will come later this week.
OFF MY SOAPBOX