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Countdown to RSL Home Opener

Real Salt Lake vs Columbus Crew

Rio Tinto Stadium

2009-04-02 19:00:00 GMT-07:00

USA vs Guatamala

First off, Colorado soccer fans are terrible. I bet there were less than 4,000 people there at the game. What a joke.

Here are the player grades:
Brad Guzan, Thorrington Clarence Goodson, Michael Parkhurst Johnathan Bornstein - 7 - I think the entire defense played well. They showed up, did their job, didn't do anything stupid and didn't allow any goals.

Freddy Adu - 8 - Awesome goal off the free kick in the 69th minute. What a great play by Kjlestan to go over it and what a nice kick by Adu. I personally have never been an Adu fan, simply because he was terrible in his short stint with Real Salt Lake, but the more I watch him on the National team, the more I like him.

Pablo Mastroeni - 6 - Stupid yellow card, won't play in the next WC Qualifier.

Ricardo Clark - 6 - Great feet and good ball movement. Didn't do anything spectacular.

Sacha Kjlestan - 7 - Great work getting forward and back.

Jozy Altidore - 8 - Great work getting open throughout the game. He is so strong and fast and will be a huge threat come WC 2010.

Kenny Cooper - 8 - Great play, should have had a goal in the 31st minute. Glad he scored in the second half. It was a great goal. Cooper now has two goals in three games for the US. How can he not be on every roster? It sure felt like he was playing to earn a regular spot on the team.

Subs:
Brian Ching, Conner Casey, Davy Arnaud - 5 - Didn't do much in the short time they were on the field.

While watching the game I couldn't help but wonder if any Real Salt Lake players would have made the squad had they been knocked out by Chivas. I don't see Beckerman making the team because the midfield was pretty stacked. As much as I hate Ricardo Clark and Mastroeni, I can see why they consistently get chosen - they seem to always play well for the USA. I wonder if Seitz would have made the 18-man roster, and backed up Guzan. I could see Borchers or Russell getting considered, especially basing it on their recent play. Does Yura have US citizenship? Could he have made the camp?

With that said, is it possible for Beckerman, Borchers, Russell, Findley, Seitz to make the team when we have a friendly at Rio Tinto Stadium?

Real Salt Lake vs. New York Recap

What a match. Games like this are the reason I watch soccer. It was an intense game from start to finish. I was most please with the crowd. Finally RSL got the fans they deserved. I thought RSL played extremely well and it was just one of the nights where the ball wouldn't go into the net. I think every player left what they had on the field and it seemed from the post game quotes that the players were sad, but knew that sometimes luck favors the opposing team. I think RSL has a bright future. I went to autograph alley after the game and Findley, Fabian, Deuchar and Will were there. You could see the disappointment in their faces, but at the same time, you could see that they knew they accomplished something great this year. Perhaps the best momemnt of the game was when the RSL faithful started chanting "R-S-L" after the game. Truely the best match of 2008.
GO RSL!

RSL vs New York Preview

I have been so busy lately that I barely have time to blog, but I am here now and that's all that matters. The past few weeks have been crazy. School is starting to get stressful, work is getting busy and RSL is close to winning the MLS Cup. I am still recovering from the Utah vs. TCU game, but I will be ready for the RSL vs. New York game. I think we will win because we have home field advantage - We always play well at home. True, NY has been the only team not to lose at Rio Tinto, but, RSL was so nervous on the opening night and we played terrible. We will be able to settle down and attack all night long. I have really thought all our players have played really lately and that is why we are in the Western Conference Championship. Yura has been amazing, Clint has been good. Javi has played like the MVP he deserved. Dema has played amazing, despite people wanting Andy to start in front of him. Kyle has been a true leader. Will has only fueled the fire. Joy has been solid. Olave and Nat have been unbeatable. Wingert and Russell have gotten forward in the attack yet still playing amazing D. Rimando has been amazing too. It is a shame none of our team got any postseason awards. But, I think everyone will get their reward in the form of the MLS Cup. We can win it all if we continue to have heart.

See ya the Rio on Saturday

RSL vs. Colorado Rapids Recap

Wow, what a game. This is why I love soccer. You sit in your house for 60 minutes while your team gets closer and closer to missing the playoffs and then in the 90th minute, your on-fire striker nets the game tying goal which sends RSL to the playoffs and retains the Rocky Mountain Cup.

Rimando had an excellent game. Again, he had a nice regular season but won't get recognized for it. I was a little worried when we had a 2-5-3 for the last several minutes, but I think Kries knew what he was doing when he took off the defensive players and added Findley, Williams and Russell. I think this is the reason we brought in Russell, to play D, but be an offensive threat as well, which he was. I think Russell had an awesome game. I don't think I have seen a worst half than the first half. We couldn't do anything right. As far as the controversial PK - life goes on. We have been the beneficiary of many poor calls but we have to move on. I don't think Colorado played an exceptional game either, but they have come along way. At the beginning and middle of the season, they were terrible. They have a very dynamic team and I think we got a little bit lucky, but sometimes that is what it takes to make magic happen.

Up next is Chivas USA. They are a great team, but they are kind of in a slump. After losing their starting goalie because of a red card, they will have to use their backup goalie. Another key player, Sasha Victorine, is out with injury. Former RSL striker, Alecko Eskandarian is playing very well. Former RSL players Carrey Talley and Atiba Harris also contribute to the Chivas play. Surely all three players will want to bury RSL in the first leg. Remember Chivas is the only team to actually beat RSL in Salt Lake. However, also remember that the first road win for RSL was at Chivas. It will be a showdown in both legs. I can see RSL coming out on fire because the will have reached their goal of the playoffs. I don't think they will be nervous.

Prediction:
1st leg - RSL 3 Chivas 1
2nd leg - RSL 1 Chivas 1

RSL advance 4-2 aggregate

What are your predictions?

RSL vs. New York

After having a good nights sleep I feel prepared to tackle this game. First and foremost, I am disappointed with not just the team, but a couple other factors. Lets start with the team:

Findley - What has Jason thinking bringing him on in the second half. He did absolutely nothing except turn the ball over. I don't think Russell did anything, but at least he could hold the ball.

Williams - RSL could have really used him out there. I think RSL could have scored two or three more goals if he was in.

Other than that, it was good to see Dema back. I think RSL played probably one of the worst games of the season. I think if they would have played this way on the road, they would have been smoked. They played too many balls over the top and the one time they did get on over, Yura dribbled too many times and let all the D get back to clear his shot off the line. He also hit right to the feet of the only guy standing there.

I also admit I was disappointed in the south section. I know they were yelling and cheering and chanting, but I was in the NE corner and I couldn't hear them at all. Maybe the wind held there noise in the south section, but I couldn't hear them at all. I think the atmosphere was good though, considering 70% of the people around me had never even been to a soccer game, let alone an RSL game.

And now the stadium - AWESOME. It is such a nice facility. I love it. I am very disappointed with the service though. I stood inline for a hot dog for 20 minutes at 7:00. Not bad if there were 50 people in front of me, but there were only 5 people. WOW - terrible service. My wife stood inline for 30 minutes for the roasted almonds. I am also mad they don't give fountain drinks, just cheap 20 oz. bottles = LAME.

And finally, I am really disappointed the only souvenir for the game was the small flag and cheap towels. Can't the print they same info on a T-shirt, charge 10 bucks and everyone is happy. How about a new scarf? And don't you think it would have been a top priority to get the shop in the NE corner open to sell all the RSL goods, instead of just the jerseys at the kiosks. They would have made a killing if the shop was open.

Now that I am done ranting, let's be honest. It was a fabulous game. We didn't get the result we were looking for, but the we were all entertained.