Real Salt Lake vs. New York Red Bulls preview
April 17, 2009 by f4denz.
Well I thought I would get this done yesterday but at the last minute I got some tickets to a suite at Franklin Covey to watch the Bee’s battle the 51’s, anyone who thinks the names of soccer teams in the US is untraditional and odd need only look to minor league baseball to really see some unique names. Well RSL is heading to the big apple to face off against New York, earlier in the week I detailed the history of the two teams but now we will look at this season and this match. First up the projected line ups:
FULL GAME GUIDE
Both sides have a few injuries of note, for NYRB Danny Cepero is likely going to be out with a concussion suffered last week, and Kandji, Mendes, and Goldthwaite are listed as questionable (both Kandji and Goldthwaite are listed as starters) and Carlos Johnson is out after a red card last week. For RSL, Joy continues to be sidelined (Hey Ian, come hang out at Lumpy’s downtown and watch the match with us) and both Borchers and Russell are listed as probable.
Most of the pundits will simply pick this one as a draw, since of the 8 regular season matchups between the two 6 have ended in draws, but that is easy and really doesn’t take a number of major factors into account.
No Goals
So for RSL they have been shut out once in 3 matches but have since found their scoring touch putting up 4 against Columbus, and 2 against DC United. In fact only 3 teams have scored more than RSL this year and all of them have played 4 matches versus RSL’s 3, but there is no team that has scored fewer goals than New York. If you would tell people that 4 matches into the season that the New York Red Bulls would not have scored a single goal, nobody would believe you, but their only goal came off a own goal against New England. They lost 3-0 against Seattle, tied 1-1 against New York, lost 0-1 against Chicago, and drew 0-0 last weekend against Houston.
With Juan Pablo Angel who has put in 33 goals in his 51 games played since joining the Red Bulls, you expect them to be a more offensive team, they have dynamic young Kandji who they picked up at the end of 2008 but he has struggled to find his form in MLS. For me the issue is simple they miss Dave van den Bergh(who went to Dallas) and Jorge Rojas simply hasn’t lived up to expectations since joining New York last summer.
Since you can’t win if you don’t score NY sits with just the 2 points from their 2 draws, but remember 3 of their matches have been on the road, and I have no doubt that JPA will score his fair share of goals this season I just hope he waits to add to his 2 lifetime goals against RSL. My biggest fear is that Kandji is hurt bad enough that he doesn’t play and that Dominic Oduro gets the start, Dominic has 3 career goals against RSL when he played for FC Dallas, and was a thorn in RSL’s side last year.
Back in action
This will no doubt be a very big match for Jon Conway who is coming back from his 10 game ban for violating the league’s performance enhancing drugs (over the counter things that you would never know would get you in trouble). Conway has had an average career with a 26-27-17 record and a 1.34 GAA, but clearly the emotions of coming back to action and the rust of not playing a match since last September could impact his performance against RSL. Real is averaging 15 shots per game with 7 being on goal, both putting us near the top of the league and the RSL attack has spread their 6 goals out as far as when they happen in a match. The only 15 minute block that RSL haven’t scored in this year is the first 15 minutes of the second half, so there will be little time for Conway to relax.
Back to Back to Back?
RSL will be attempting to make it 3 in a row, which would be only the second time in team history (RSL did have a 4 win streak in 2006), but I think the history that most RSL players have in mind has to do with the 1-1 draw in the Rio Tinto Stadium opening match or the 1-0 loss in the Western Conference Final both of which left most with a very empty feeling.
For RSL will Yura get his first goal of the year? Can Rimando keep NY goalless? Can RSL finally get a win against NY? Will RSL get their first road points of the 2009 season, something it took until mid June to accomplish last year? There are a ton of questions and RSL has a chance to answer a lot of them tomorrow.
Key Matchups
Defensively it will be how can RSL match the speed of Dane Richards and Khano Smith on the wings of the New York midfield, can Wingert and Beltran keep them in check and allow Mathis and Johnson to push forward into the attack? The battle in the middle of the midfield is really interesting as Stammler and Rojas matchup with Beckerman and Morales, Javi had his first really good match of the season last week and perhaps the news of Espindola’s pending return will motivate him for this match. I like the matchup of Olave versus Angel, with the exception of the uncalled take down in the September loss at New York, Jamison has proven that he can take JPA out of his game and keep him from scoring.
I really like the matchup of Yura and Findley against the New York backline, and I think their pace could pose the same types of problem that New York had on opening night against Seattle, the pace and athletic ability should work in RSL’s favor.
Prediction
Well like I said at the start it is easy to pick a draw, and most pundits are, but I think RSL are playing well and I think New York is still trying to figure a number of things out. RSL want some revenge for the WCF last year, a match when they outplayed New York and had better stats in every category but one (goals). This one ends up with RSL getting a 2-1 win.
Other Match Predictions
Chicago 2- KC 1
LA 2- SJ 2
Chivas 2 - Seattle 2
Houston 1- Colorado 0
Dallas 1- Toronto 1
OFF MY SOAPBOX