So one has to ask all the cynics and critics if they believe yet? I mean we had never beaten New York and so many of them thought RSL would not get the win on Wednesday night, heck some of them claimed that since RSL decided (for whatever reason) to not show the US vs. Costa Rica match that they wouldn’t even attend the match. I know they will all come back with, but it doesn’t matter RSL still isn’t in the playoffs, or well they should have beat the worst team in MLS. Is New York the worst team in MLS, by record yes but how many teams can say they have beaten Columbus, FC Dallas and gotten draws against New England and Chivas USA all in the last 2 months? In fact going into the match on Wednesday, the Red Bulls were 2-2-2 in their last 6 matches.
So going into the match on Saturday (the early match on the MLS schedule) RSL is set to perhaps move into the playoffs, yup the team that so many “fans” gave up for dead over the last few weeks and months could (with as their theme song “A little help from my friends” says) find themselves on the right side of the cutoff line. New England faces off against Chicago, the Rev’s are trying to stay alive and Chicago is trying to clinch their place in the playoffs, so expect a barn burner in this one. If New England drop another match at home like they did last weekend against Columbus, well any result for RSL would move them past New England. Colorado heads to Dallas sitting on 40 points and if they drop the match they could find themselves in a tiebreaker with RSL (if RSL can pull off a road win), but right now Colorado holds the edge in the tiebreaker (with a 1-0-1 record against RSL) and that would put a ton on the line for the final regular season match at Rio Tinto. Seattle can punch their ticket with a road win over Kansas City, but if they find themselves on the wrong end of the score sheet it could spell doom for their playoff hopes. It would take a lot Colorado win at FC Dallas, a FC Dallas win at Seattle, a RSL win or draw at TFC with a RSL win over Colorado. That would put Colorado with 43 points and RSL with either 41 or 43, if RSL and Seattle both end with 41 points it would go to the overall goal differential tiebreaker, and right now Seattle is plus 7 (but two losses would mean that would drop to at least a 5), while RSL is at a plus 6 and would end with at least a plus 7 clinching the playoff spot and dashing the dreams of ESPN, MLS, and tens of thousands of wanna be SSFC fans.
Oh how interesting it all could be over the next 10 days, I have to admit that I am not a fan of the parity that exists in MLS (the best team has 13 wins and all but one team is within 6 wins of them) but with the league controlling contracts, setting salary caps, and running almost every aspect of the teams that make up the league it is to be expected. So the question bears repeating, “Do you believe yet?”
Thoughts about the match
I think Jason hit it on the head in his post match comments (video is below):
when he said at halftime that he was thinking “Is this déjà vu?”. Consider that RSL has faced off against New York 3 times at Rio Tinto Stadium and each time RSL has been the superior team, last night RSL outshot New York 21 to 6 and had 10 shots on goal to the 1 for the Red Bulls. At the half those numbers were 9 to 3 on shots and while RSL had 5 on target and New York had none, so it is easy to see why Jason thought that way. It was interesting that earlier in the day Andy Williams posted the following on facebook:
and it was clear that when he came into the match in the 3rd minute that the RSL original was going to do everything he could to be the difference maker as he took 5 shots and scored the game winner. I love that Andy was able to bring some fresh legs into the match and provided some energy to a team that was clearly getting a bit frustrated by their lack of results. Andy didn’t do it on his own, Robbie Findley had a huge part of the goal with an incredible cross. Robbie stepped in for Yura with just over 20 minutes left in the match, both players were impressive with the effort they put forth in their minutes, Yura was all over the pitch creating chances and putting some quality balls into the box and he was huge getting back in defense when others were moving far too slow, and Robbie used his speed to create a lot of space and also played a number of good balls into the box, including the assist on Andy’s goal. The other goal was all about the effort of Fabi, he had a number of good chances (6 shots with 3 on goal) and he was all about creating problems for New York’s defenders as he fought harder for every loose ball than I have seen him do in a long time.
I was impressed with the effort of the RSL backline, Kudo’s to Olave and Beltran who I thought were incredible both with their defensive efforts and their creative offensive work. I also thought the RSL midfield was quick to adapt back into the 4-4-2 and did their best to control the match and do some really good things on both sides of the ball. It was clear to me that RSL played with grit and determination and did so for 90 minutes last night, it is that type of effort that will be needed Saturday afternoon if they are going to get a road result.
I am not sure who thought it was “cool” to rip the toilet paper out of the restrooms and toss it onto the pitch (both were efforts to hit players), but it is classless and stupid. I don’t know all the issues involved with La Barra Real last night, but they really seem to be too thin skinned to me, for 5 years RSL supporter groups have gotten grief from stadium security, over language, signs, streamers, and any number of other issues, but not once did the group decide that getting in trouble, or a member kicked out was worth turning their back on the team. This is twice in recent months that I have seen this type of action out of the newest supporters group, and I am not sure what the issues are but you guys are better than this.
Some Pictures
I really like the fact that both teams had shirts supporting Charlie as he recovers
Yura and Javi ready to start
I like that Kyle was much more aggressive than I have seen in a couple months
Some fans didn’t wait until the 9th minute to show their support for Charlie
but when the 9th minute hit, it was impressive to see
the East side
the West side and those all around the stadium showing a lot of love
Kyle and Javi played some deception games on a free kick, and only a great save stopped the shot
Still not sure how this wasn’t a foul
Not sure why a fan would throw something during a RSL set piece
I was impressed with Fabi all night
Robbie came down and crossed the ball, but I was too busy cheering to catch the actual goal
But it was great to see two RSL originals celebrate what might be the goal that saved the season
Not sure how Fabi got this ball on goal but it fooled both the defenders and the keeper.
