March 31, 2009 by f4denz.

So it is Tuesday night and I will be rewatching the RSL vs. SSFC match and offering my take on the match. My opinions will reflect what I see on the television coverage combined with what I saw from the sidelines of the match, because I can tell you that what I have read online seems to be much more negative than what I saw from the sidelines. So here goes:

Prematch

So if you were to take the emotions of the Western Conference Finals last year at Rio Tinto and add 10,000 more people to it all of them as loud and as into the match as the RSL fans were then, add in a chilly 43 at the start and 36 degrees at the end, and wet (it had rained and drizzled) almost all day, and then top it all off with a surface that was slick and something that affected play in the match. This is an impressive facility and clearly the money a NFL franchise was willing to spend on a stadium allows for that, they simply presented a great event in a incredible professional environment, their fans were great (OK 95% of them were great, there were a few drunks who simply tried to ruin the day for others). What their fans are lacking in depth of soccer knowledge and still learning who their players are, they make up with their passion

The starting lineups are:
RSL- Rimando, Beltran, Olave, Borchers, Wingert, Mathis, Beckerman, Morales, Johnson, Findley, and Movsisyan(Seitx, Alexandre, Grabavoy, Cox, Nunez, Horst, Williams)

SSFC- Keller, Evans, Alonso, Riley, Le Toux, Zakuani, Marshall, Montero, Scott, Jaqua, Hurtado (Dragavon, Ianni, Wahl, Ljungberg, Sturgis, King, Levesque)

0-10

If you can’t enjoy a match live, then High Def TV is the next best thing, and RSL starts the match with the ball first and go right into the attack with a long ball over the top. Robbie ends up with the ball just outside the 18 but tries to pass it vs. turning and taking a shot and it ends up with SSFC getting the ball, the first couple minutes are a bit sloppy as both sides are trying to get used the conditions. RSL gets called for the first foul of the night, and even early on they mention that tonight’s match has a very card happy (and foul happy) official in charge. Early there is a little communication issue between Nick and the back line but no harm comes of it, and it looks like SSFC will clearly be happy with playing the ball out and resetting their defense vs. taking too many chances. A nice pass by Montero goes a bit long and Rimando cleans it up, already we have seen more than a foul a minute being called. Neither team has done much with the ball, Yura plays a nice ball but it is just a bit long for an onrushing Findley and it rolls to Keller who picks it up, and the Seattle fans at least know his name, I am not sure how many keepers in the league get their name chanted for just picking up a ball but hey, whatever works.

Seattle plays a long ball but Olave is there and passes it back to Rimando who clears it, SSFC get it back and a nice pass by Riley but the RSL defense is up to the task, not sure why the hip check on Wingert deep in the SSFC final third wasn’t called but the Seattle counter is broke up by Mathis and RSL has a nice counter going but the ball gets away from Beltran, and in the 10^th minute Kyle Beckerman gets a yellow card for a foul on Montero, but I can see the foul and the card.

10-20

Well neither team has looked impressive or created much in the way of chances, or controlled much of the possession. Hey it is nice when you can see yourself on the TV, Yura gets the first real shot of the night and Keller pushes it over the top of the goal for the first corner kick of the night. A decent ball played in by Javi, but nothing comes of it and Seattle gets the ball back and a bad clearance attempt but RSL finally gets the ball back to the midfield line. We are not clearing the ball well, so far Clint and Yura look to be the sharpest players for RSL, while Beckerman looks really slow and the shot from Seattle is blocked by Borchers and their corner kick is a bit more dramatic but eventually cleared out of the box. Rimando makes a good move to stop a shot by Montero and another SSFC corner kick, this one is cleared easily but Seattle keep possession of the ball, a bad turnover by Beltran but RSL recover and no real harm comes of it. Wow a nice move by Zakuani who gets the ball in to Jaqua who doesn’t miss and it gets by Rimando for a goal in the 17^th minute and Seattle leads 1-0. That goal really started by a great pass from Alonso to Zakuani who was open and able to get a great ball crossed into the box. So at the twenty minute mark I am left wondering where is Morales? He has hardly touched the ball tonight and without him helping control the match we could be in trouble. A second yellow card, this one for Seattle and it is on Alonso for a late tackle with the studs up on Johnson.

20-30

The last yellow card is followed very quickly by another this time on Javier on a collision with Alsonso, a weak card on very light contact between two players going for a 50-50 ball, with two cards already on our midfielders it will really limit how they can play defensively and with the inability to control the possession they will be busy trying to defend in the midfield. Nice ball by Mathis but Robbie is just a step behind and Keller makes another save. Seattle gets a chance but Rimando makes a big save as RSL are on their heels and unable to get the ball back from them deep in their own end.

Again it just looks like Kyle is a bit slow tonight, he just got out hustled to a ball by Alonso who has looked impressive early in the match. I am not sure if he is hesitant and wanting to get beat defensively, but it is clear that he doesn’t look comfortable tonight. A bad ball by Wingert gives up the ball deep in the RSL end and two bad attempts to clear the ball by Olave and Beckerman, finally Seattle takes a bad shot that goes slowly wide past the goal.

30-40

One thing that the Seattle staff will have to figure out is how to organize their ball kids, at least 3 times in the first 30 minutes we have had multiple balls on the pitch, welcome to expansion land. Wow another horrible clearance by RSL, this time it was Borchers and it results in a Jaqua shot that goes wide. Mathis gets the ball into Yura but it goes wide and another chance is gone, Yura muscles by the defender and puts a ball on goal but it floats to Keller and he makes an easy save.

Findley plays a nice ball into the box but it goes over to Seattle and they counter with a pass to Montero who looks offside to me, but it ends up with a SSFC corner kick but nothing comes of the effort and it ends with a RSL goal kick, but RSL can’t keep possession and Tony has to make a great tackle to get the ball away from Montero who was trying to break away. That might have just saved a second Seattle goal, I am still not impressed by either teams possession, they attack again and this time Tony pokes it out of bounds as Zakuani tries to get by him again. RSL is just really having issues clearing the ball, Findley with a nice effort deep in the Seattle end and earns a corner kick for RSL but this time Olave is taken down in the box but Clint gets off a shot and Keller fumbles the save as he tries to go over Borchers. Seattle try to counter quickly but it is broken up and RSL get possession back but once again the ball is playing very fast on this wet turf and it goes out of bounds and back to Seattle.

40-halftime

The last five minutes have looked better for RSL who have controlled the possession better than they have at any other time in the first half, a bad turnover by Morales and a ball into the box but Olave is all over Le Toux and the ball is back in the possession of RSL. Some nice play by Beckerman and Morales but the cross by Wingert is cleared easily by Seattle and they are back into the attack, a foul from behind on Javi breaks up a good chance, they get a call but no card this time. RSL is trying to get the ball into the box but so far they are having little success in getting it there, and even less when they do as they are clearing the ball well. Olave is marking Montero tight but I don’t see the call as Fredy goes down easily but the push in the back was all that it took, well that and some play acting by Fredy. Seattle has been getting their set pieces into the box but unable to create any real offensive chances. The first half whistle blows.

45-55

Well it is nice that they showed the 50 or so RSL fans that made the trip up to Seattle, but the play on the pitch has to improve if RSL wants to reward those loyal fans. Seattle gets a quick corner kick as the second half starts and Olave clears it out but they give the ball to RSL, not sure what the ref was looking at but I will take it. Javi plays a good ball to Yura but he gives it up to Hurtado who pokes it away, and a foul is called on Seattle on the goal kick but RSL plays a long ball in but nobody is on the receiving end, it is nice to see that Javi is getting more involved in the first minutes of the second half. A nice ball to Johnson but he can’t control it and it goes back to Seattle but once again Olave stops the progress and RSL counters with a long ball to Yura who is one on one with Keller but Kasey is up to the save, the rebound bounces to Mathis who fires a shot that goes just wide, and that was the best RSL chance so far in the match but they look much sharper in the first five minutes of the second half than they did in the first. A nice cross into the box by Beltran but it is cleared by Seattle, but RSL gets it back and is doing a better job of possession and winning the 50-50 balls. Wingert plays a long ball into the box but there again is nobody on the receiving end of the pass, if you’re going to play long ball, then you have to have people in the box and RSL is missing that part.

So far in the match Olave and Mathis really have been impressive, Yura has looked good and Beltran has recovered nicely from the early struggles, Javi and Kyle both look better early in the second half, than they did in the first half. A nice ball in by Javi off a free kick but Findley’s header goes over the goal and out for a Seattle goal kick. You really don’t get a good sense of the energy in the stadium from the TV coverage, but trust me it was intense.

55-65

The first nice attack of the second half by Seattle but again Olave is there and clears it out over the back line but it leads to the 8^th corner kick for Seattle but it out over the top of the goal for a RSL goal kick, and a shot of the other Freddie on the sidelines getting ready to come in. RSL really is pushing up as they look to equalize, a long ball by Wingert is a bit long and it goes out off a Seattle player for a RSL corner, but Seattle clears it but RSL keep s possession, a ball to Will who plays it into the box and Mathis gets it to Yura but the shot deflects off a Seattle player for another corner, but eventually the ball goes back to Seattle.

Rimando picks the ball up off the line of the 18 yard box and RSL again is on the attack but Keller makes a save and Seattle counters but Olave slows it down as he plays the ball out of bounds. Olave slips on the turf but Seattle is unable to take advantage and their shot goes wide. In come Ljungberg for Seattle and the fans go wild, but RSl still controls the ball and again is on the attack, broken up by Seattle and Montero tries to play the ball in the box but Rimando is there to clean it up. RSL again attacks and Seattle breaks it up but again RSL get it right back and Wingert plays a ball in and Findley heads it but then hits Marshall’s head and both players are down. Both are back up and the RSL corner plays pinball around the box but the RSL shot is right at Keller>

65-75

The last few minutes have been back to the sloppy play of the first half for both sides, Yura goes deep and Alonso pokes it out of bounds and RSL have a deep throw in. Freddie thought he had Will beat but Will pulls it back like a yo-yo, and RSL again attacks Mathis in the box but he passes to Javi who passes to Yura but his shot goes wide. Rimando’s goal kick goes out of bounds at midfield and Seattle get the ball back. Yura gets a good ball deep and crosses it into the box but only the head of a Seattle player is there but RSL gets a corner, it bounces around and out for another RSL corner kick. This one is cleared by Seattle and they look to counter but Kyle slows down Freddie and Will pokes it away from him and now RSL has the ball for a throw in deep in the Seattle end. Seattle brings in Sturgis for Jaqua as Seattle looks to defend their lead against an improved RSL attack, Seattle gets a good attack but Olave again pushes it out of bounds. I still see the RSL players struggling with their footing on the turf but they are trying to make the best of it, Beckerman fires a shot from 35 and it is just wide of the goal and a diving Keller. RSL pull Findley for Andy Williams, and as the RSL attack continues the Seattle defense is simply too much to get past.

75-85

For some reason my recording of the match has lost audio, but I have to say that the RSL effort in the second half has looked much better than the first half. So Javi gets fouled by Alonso deep in the Seattle final third but no call and Javi just lies there as Seattle counters and Fredy Montero cracks a shot past Borchers who is too far back and Rimando can’t get to it. Seattle 2- RSL 0, Javi is on one knee as the shot is taken. RSL is back on the attack and get two straight corners but neither is much of a threat as Keller finally pulls the ball down and clears it deep. I still have no audio as the match enters the 80^th minute and RSL is trying to stop a SSFC counter, nice ball by Fredy to Freddie but it is broken up by RSL yet again.

Seattle is looking to get a third goal but the ball into the box by FL is long and Rimando grabs it befoer FM can get to it. RSL push back into the attack, Beltran tries to cross the ball but it is blocked out by Riley and Seattle tries to counter but it is broken up by RSL. Yura is taken down about 10 yards outside of the box and RSL try to build some type of attack, they really are controlling possession in the second half but being down two goals with less than 10 minutes means you have to get shots on goal. Raphael Cox makes his MLS debut for Tony Beltran who I think recovered nicely from some early mistakes and miscues.

85-final

I can say one thing about RSL since Jason took over the role of coach, they do not quit. In years past being down 2 on the road with 5 minutes to go RSL would pack it in and call it a night, that is no longer the case as RSL continue to fight and claw as they try to get their first goal of the 2009 MLS season. Cox plays a nice ball to Javi who gets it to Wingert who tries a horrible long distance effort that sails high and wide. Another nice pass by Cox to Yura and Seattle kicks it out for a throw in, another long distance effort right into the arms of Keller, and now the other RSL rookie Jean Alexandre comes in for the final few minutes for Clint Mathis. I think Mathis had the best effort of the night he created chances for himself and others all night long, another RSL corner kick, this one is punched out by Keller and eventually leads to another corner for RSL, this time it is played short to Andy but he can’t get a shot on goal. RSL fights but Seattle comes out on top this time.

Final score is 2-0 and while RSL looked slow and unable to get organized but Seattle didn’t look much better except on a great ball played in to RSL killer Jaqua who scored the game winner for SSFC. RSL clearly controlled the pace and possession of the second half but could not finish any of their many chances, and when Javi went down easily and stayed down Seattle was able to counter and get a second goal on a great shot by Fredy Montero, who is everything he appears to be, quick, sneaky and very talented. I believe RSL will be able to learn a few things from this loss and move on.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

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March 31, 2009 by f4denz.

Well here are some of my pictures from Real Salt Lake’s trip to visit expansion side Seattle Sounders FC. While the result isn’t what RSL fans were looking for the match was closer than the score but a loss is still a loss. I will be re-watching the match Tuesday evening and will post my detailed review of the match then, but for now here are the pictures:

If you want to see more pictures here is the photo album from the match, I will be adding more of them as the week goes along.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

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March 31, 2009 by f4denz.

It started on First Kick, a Seattle fan is shown with a scarf but to his misfortune he was holding it upside down and then on Saturday prior to the Real Salt Lake vs. Seattle Sounders FC match there was this kid who was displayed up on the big screen:

So below there are three crowd shots that I found in my pictures and each of them is a link to a higher resolution copy of the image, click it and play the game of “which way is up?” It is kinda like the old Where’s Waldo books, try to find as many upside down scarves as you can in each photo:

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

I understand the passion of the fans that have a new team to cheer for and support, I love that so many people are behind the team in Seattle. It is good for the sport, the league, the team, and in turn it is good for every MLS team, and every MLS fan. I simply suggest that you might want to pay a little be of attention to details, if the league is going to “pimp” you as their new star team, please try to catch up.

Now before you start spamming away understand it is just a little sour grapes after our loss on Saturday, and to the two guys who I bet $20 on the game with I stopped by your lot but you weren’t there if you make it to Salt Lake for the August match look me up and I will pay you in beer. Just to ensure that nobody thinks I am being too mean, here are some more pictures of the great fans in Seattle.

I will add some more crowd pictures of the crowd later this week. http://connect.roguecavaliers.com/photo/albums/seattle-fans is the place to go for more pictures.

OFF MY SOAPBOX

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