Real Salt Lake @ Columbus Crew (do you believe match preview)
November 4, 2009 by f4denz.
So several times over the last month or so I have asked the question of RSL fans “Do You Believe?” and the answers have been mixed at best from most of them. Heck even after beat Colorado there were many who thought we still wouldn’t make the playoffs, after we did there were some who thought there was no way we would beat Columbus, and even after we did there are still some out there who expect RSL to lose on Thursday. Of course many of these people are the same ones who refuse to acknowledge the success of the team making the playoffs two straight years, those who question the team and staff after two first round home wins (something half the teams in the playoffs couldn’t do) and I am sure even when we make to the Eastern Conference final there will be some who continue to simply by critical and cynical. They won’t change because they hate the coach, or think we should have different players, or any of a hundred reasons to doubt the team. I was recently accused of being a fanboy, well if you mean that I fall into the following definition of a fan, then damm straight I am. From Wikipedia “A fan, aficionado, or supporter is someone who has an intense, occasionally overwhelming liking and enthusiasm for a sporting club, person (usually a celebrity), group of persons, company, product, activity, work of art, idea, or trend. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom. They often show their enthusiasm by starting a fan club, holding fan conventions, creating fanzines, writing fan mail, or promoting the object of their interest and attention.) My only question is why aren’t you a fan? I do believe that in MLS on any given day any team can beat any other team, it is part of the parity of the league, so why would I not believe that the team I am a FAN of would win?
So what advice can I offer? I can only say this for Real Salt Lake entering the match on Thursday playing as if they are down a goal is probably the best way to not end up as a footnote in the 2009 MLS playoff records. When you face a team that hasn’t scored a goal in their last 5 MLS matches and will be desperate to try and create some offense you will have the perfect opportunity to punish their aggressiveness not by bunkering and resisting but turning that aggression against them. To play smart and use quality passes to move the ball quickly into the attacking third of the pitch before Columbus can recover could be the difference. We have proven that when they play their most defensive lineup of the year that we can prod, poke, and eventually capitalize on the cracks that will appear. So when they play a more aggressive and offensive lineup and style can we again capitalize on the defensive cracks that will appear? Can we withstand the storm of their attack and counter with the pace our forwards possess and prove that we are the better side? Are we?
In our last 4 MLS matches including the first leg of the playoffs last weekend, we are 3-1-0 with 6 goals for and only 1 goal against, while the Crew are 1-3-0 with just a single goal for and 3 against. Clearly the two teams have been heading in opposite directions over the last 4 months and after sitting out their two most dangerous offensive players in the last match, can the Crew shift gears and try to become an offensive team again? Only once since August have they won a match by two or more goals and their busy Champions League action has clearly impacted their MLS results, and with just 5 days since their last match how does a team shift gears so quickly? If they needed a team that might just give them an easy way to get back on the attack they couldn’t have picked an easier foe than RSL, who with a 2-11-2 road record in the regular season proved to be a tiger at home, but a real powder puff on the road.
So as much as Columbus has to do something they haven’t done in their last two home matches, both scoring and wining, for RSL I really believe they need to win the match. Sure advancing to the next round via a draw would be good enough for many, but if the mentality of winning doesn’t appear on the road on Thursday, what chance is there that we could face Chicago or New England in the Eastern Conference final and win? The time to change is now, the team must prove to themselves that they are good enough, the fans may doubt but many still believe we can win any match, the cynic and critics give us very little chance, but it was just a month ago that very, very few thought we would be in this position. Not only in the playoffs, but heading into the second leg with a 1-0 victory over the defending MLS champs.
The lineup for RSL will likely be the same as it was at home, Jason made mention that while he thinks we could bunker down and protect the lead, the smart play would be to attack and play to win the match. I agree, can the Crew beat RSL with fewer than 9 men playing behind the ball? Would they dare leave GBS on the bench because he won’t play much defense, without the support of every midfielder can that back line really deal with Findley? Oh there are so many interesting questions. So the official match guide is showing the projected lineups as:
I think if this is the true lineup for Columbus they are showing the RSL offense a lot of respect by keeping 6 defensive minded players on the pitch with just 4 guys as their primary attackers. My greatest fear is what you see below the lineups as Baldomero Toledo is listed as the head official (smells fishy to me) and we all know that he is one of the officials in this league who likes to be the center of attention over the actual match. He has issued either a red card or a PK in over 80% of his matches, and what a shame it would be if a bush league official were to be the deciding factor in a playoff match. He was the head official in Sunday’s New England’s 2-1 victory over Chicago, he called 18 fouls and issued two yellow cards in the match. I would be more than happy if he could try to stay out of the match as much as possible.
I thought prior to the last match that Findley and Fabi would be too much for Marshall and Brunner and I have to admit I was really surprised how well Brunner did in the match, he will need to put together another stellar performance if Columbus expect to keep RSL off the scoreboard. I thought the RSL defense did their job for most of the match as Olave had no problem dealing with the 6′1″ Lenhart (does that include his sideshow bob haircut?) and I think Wingert did a decent job of keeping Hejduk from being able to get quality balls into the box, I do think the passing and crossing of Chris could be picked up a bit if he wants to help the offense (and Chris please stop shooting). I thought Beltran was solid both on defense and in support of the offense and the efforts of Kyle and Will were first rate as they attacked every ball that entered the midfield despite being outnumbered by the bunkered Crew. It is the playoffs and if RSL ever needed Javier to find his form of 2008 it would be now, and while the tactics of Columbus caused issues for Andy, he too will need to step up and show fans that he isn’t just a spark at home but that he can be creative on the road.
It will probably be a much more exciting match than the one we saw on Saturday, and it is very likely to see Columbus break out of their scoring slump. For me the question is which road team shows up, the team that played tough in Toronto but allowed a late goal, the team that battled back in Houston from being down two early goals to not only get back into the match but to do so a man down? If so then we could very easily see RSL move on, but if the team that simply looked disinterested in Dallas shows up, well it could be a very long night in Columbus. My head says to pick the match 2-1 for Columbus and that it will be decided on PK’s, but my heart says that it will be a 1-0 win for RSL and the third straight 1-0 home loss for Columbus. So I am going down the middle and picking a 1-1 draw with RSL moving on, but I would not be surprised if RSL really does shock the world and pulls out a win.
Just a FYI, the early votes are in and right now it is 77.8% for RSL and 22.2% for the Crew, what I find funny is there are more votes for RSL from out of the state than there are votes for the Crew from right here in Utah. Oh I know who you are (Logan, UT, Springville, UT, Tooele, UT, and most of all you Provo, UT) well I really don’t know who but I do know where you voted from. I will post an update on the voting in the morning.
OFF MY SOAPBOX
3 wins and a star for the jersey, that is the goal
Viewing Party Sold Out??????
November 4, 2009 by f4denz.
Wow, I have to admit to being more than a little surprised that RSL was able to sell out their viewing party at Rio Tinto. It shows that there are a number of fans that do believe.
Good Job RSL.
RSL to host viewing party for leg 2 of playoffs
November 4, 2009 by f4denz.
Real Salt Lake will be hosting a party out at Rio Tinto Stadium on Thursday night for those who want to head out and watch the second match of the RSL vs. Crew series. Here are the details on the all you can eat event:
Real Salt Lake invites its fans to Rio Tinto Stadium’s 2nd-floor “Club Real” presented by Budweiser this Thursday night for a watch party in conjunction with the team’s Eastern Conference Semifinal second leg at Columbus against the Defending MLS Cup Champion Crew. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. MT, and a $20 cover charge provides access to an all-you-can-eat buffet and unlimited Pepsi products and FIJI water. Budweiser will also feature $5 drafts for those over 21 years of age. Tickets should be purchased in advance at either www.RealSaltLake.com <http://www.RealSaltLake.com> or www.RioTintoStadium.com <http://www.RioTintoStadium.com> .
WHAT: RSL @ Columbus – Eastern Conference Semifinal Series, Leg #2
WHEN: THURSDAY – November 5, 2009
5:30-9:00 p.m. MT
WHERE: Rio Tinto Stadium – Club Real, presented by Budweiser
Second level
9256 South State Street - Sandy, UT
*** Parking available in the West Lot at Rio Tinto Stadium***
WHO: Real Salt Lake fans, players and staff
Levy Restaurants, the industry leader in event catering, has assembled a menu for the watch party consisting of the following:
STADIUM FAVORITES
HOT WINGS with ranch and blue cheese
NACHO BAR with chili, cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, salsas
HOT DOGS & BRATS with traditional condiments
ITALIAN FARE
MEATBALL SUBS
PANZANELLA SALAD with mozzarella, olive oil, tomatoes, balsamic
CAESAR SALAD
CHEF’S PASTA SALAD
TASTE OF MEXICO
CHICKEN CHIPOTLE TACOS with salsa bar, spanish rice
TACO SALAD with grilled flank beef, tomatoes, cheddar, mexi-ranch
ROASTED PEPPER SALAD with garbanzo beans, spinach, chili-lime
REFRIED BEANS & CHEESE
WASATCH BARBECUE
PULLED PORK SANDWICHES with soft rolls, coleslaw, BBQ sauces
MUSTARD POTATO SALAD
FIELD GREENS SALAD with ranch & balsamic
BISTRO STYLE GRILLED VEGETABLES
I will probably not be attending the event but I think they put together a good offer, but it is just a bit pricy and I will be on a huge time crunch on Thursday just to get home to watch the match.
OFF MY SOAPBOX
Win 2 and get ready for the road trip to Seattle